Choose Life: Readings For Radical DisciplesSample

Influenced or Influencer?

One of the lists on the toptens.com website is the world’s top ten most influential people of all time. The list includes the apostle Paul, Buddha, Gandhi, Confucius, and Einstein. Jesus Christ is at number one. How is it that a carpenter from Galilee, who only spent three years teaching those around him, is still being cited as the number on most influential person of all time?

Influence is the ability to alter or sway an individual or a group’s thoughts, beliefs, and actions. How did Jesus do it? Did he fit in with the movers and shakers and try to influence from within? Did he suck up to those in authority to gain leverage for his cause? Did he preach a message that make his listeners feel good about themselves? Was he so attractive and charismatic that people just wanted to follow him to bask in his reflected glory? No, he preached and embodied a countercultural, simple message of repentance, humility, hope, and healing. His authentic demonstration of costly love was so attractive to the sick, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised that the news spread far and wide to the nations through the centuries. 

So, what about us? Are we blinded by the bling, convinced by the crowds, followers of fads, and tuned in to trouble? Do we bring a message of hope and healing or of drudgery and despair? Do our friends seek us out for encouragement or to share gossip? Do we give off a fragrant aroma or a putrid stench? Do we raise the bar or slip to the lowest common denominator? 

Lord, I choose with your help to shine brightly for you today, to radiate hope, to influence those I come into contact with positively for your glory. Amen!