Imitate Christ
Our church held its annual Fall Festival this past weekend. Many people put in a lot of time and energy making this event our largest outreach ministry – and I personally thank each and everyone.
During the time the youth were doing an interpretative movement, I was watching two or three small girls in the crowd. These little girls were around 4-6 years old. Their eyes were frozen on the youth group and they mimicked every movement the group made.
Then I started looking around at the adults in the crowd and they too were watching closely every move “the Christians” were making. We, as Christians, are to imitate Christ. We have an impact on every person I come in contact with. I have to always ask myself, “What kind of impact are you making?”
November 7th, 2005 at 11:41 am
The impact or influence that you are talking about is a powerful thing. Power or authority can cause a person to change externally but it is influence that causes internal, life effecting changes in a person.
Choosing to use the influence that God has given us is a deliberate thing we must do, yet it is also a spiritual responsibility don’t ya think?
Influence is a very powerful thing, particularly when you are speaking within the spiritual realm. The influence that each of us can (and should) have on the lives of others can be very far reaching, through generations.
We would all do well to grasp the power of influence within the circles that we are given.
November 7th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
Couldn’t agree more. It is an enormous responsibilty! But, Christians are empowered by the Spirit of the Almighty God. So all of the power needed to be the influence that God would have us to be is amply supplied.
I was wondering if I was just being introspective or convicted? Or is there a difference?
November 7th, 2005 at 2:47 pm
It IS that incomparably great power (Ephesians1) that we have access to…that power, that strength that was exerted to raise Christ from the dead and seat Him in the heavens at the right hand of God….we have access to that kind of power.
Whether in influence or any other area it is a deliberate decision on our part about whether or not we will draw on that strength and power or draw on our own feeble human resources.
As for conviction vs. introspection….I think there is a difference to some degree…introspection is basically meditating on your own thoughts and feelings which may or may not compel you to action while conviction is being convinced of something which generally does compel you to some type of action. Introspection isn’t a bad thing and really when we are in that reflective / introspective mode and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to the things we are reflecting on then the introspection could certainly be something that leads to conviction.