A great way to be a good influence on others
Would our friends or family members be eager to tell God everything we do together?
As important as it is to consider the company we keep, it’s equally important to consider what kind of company we are to others. The influence we have on each other impacts us more than we’ll ever realize. What would it take for our influence to be a positive one?
For some of us, it would take having true repentance for our sin and the fear of God.
Don’t you hate the moments (sometimes years) that follow after you’ve willfully disobeyed God? Shame and damaged credibility are bad enough, but the wrenching realization of how we’ve grieved our heavenly Father strips us of the joy we previously had with Him.
It’s even worse when we entice others to follow our lead.
In 2 Samuel 11, King David allowed his lust over Bathsheba to mature into a shameful affair. Then he callously arranged the murder of her honorable husband, thus, bringing innocent men into his sin. He – the king of Israel. What an example. What an influence.
But when the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin, David pled with God for forgiveness. Then he said,
“I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.”
Psalm 51:13 (ESV)
Wow! Is there any better way to have a positive influence on others – especially on those who feel trapped regarding their choices and wish they could find a way out?
When we genuinely repent (having more remorse for our rebellion against a holy God than despair for the consequences we experience), God mercifully restores our relationship with Him and helps us deal with the aftermath of our choices. And the more we, ourselves, fear God, (the more we fear treading into any area of sin), the more we can help others do the same.
God is fearsomely holy, yet awesomely wonderful. If we, like David, allow the Holy Spirit to break our hearts over our sin and nurture in us a healthy fear of Him, God will use us in ways we can only imagine in our friends’ and family’s lives. Perhaps even in the lives of those who haven’t yet chosen to follow Christ.
What about you?
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Does this week’s message give you another reason to fear God and truly repent of your sin?
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Wow what awesome thought an message. Makes one truly searching to stay on path with Christ to stop think and hopefully adjust between their choices and sin.Many times when we children of the heavenly King. I think make choices to do something we may weigh our choice but not sure we truly always stop to weigh how our choices effect those around us.Maybe if we weighed that as one of our first thoughts as Christ first loved us. Then maybe we as humans would make less wrong sinful choices an more staying in Him an His path for our walk in an with Him, just a thought. And about your question. For todays post. Are we not as Gods followers suppose to always fear Him??? Not just when we’ve sinned and worry about His judgement. I mean fear Him in a good way. I was always told that growing up in church to fear God in all things. Not a scary fear but a obedient fear. Does that make sense?? Again ty makes one think. I personally know an admit I need to spend much time in His word and pray on my life and choices. Am I setting the right example and choices?
Me, too, Kati. Each choice we make might affect someone – positively or negatively.
In regard to your question, YES! We should always have a reverent respect – a holy fear – of God. I wrote about that in a recent post, “I Fear God, but I’m Not Afraid of Him.” (Which actually reflects a lot of what you also said in your comment, Kati!)
Amen. Yes I remember your sharing that post. I notice that your blogs although written and shared different days an on different issues all seem to come together expanding each on the other in Him. Sometimes deeper some subtle ty for allowing God to work through you.GBU
Love this! And some people we are just better people when we are around them. I like to be around people who expect me to be a better person. I try to be that person.
You said that right. Some people just seem to make us better people. I think if you in Christ we tend to put out better influence as to the other side if your around worldly people you end up not showing Christ behavior. Love to hear what you have to say. GBU
Thank you, Barbara. I LOVE what you said, “And some people we are just better people when we are around them. I like to be around people who expect me to be a better person. I try to be that person.” Excellent!
I am praying to be that kind of person, too!!