Following Well: Getting Better in Our Walk With ChristSample

Accept Your Influence

Faithful followers are not just weaklings who "follow blindly"; instead, they are individuals with immense influence. If following Jesus is engaged correctly, it can propel a person, mission, or organization's success. For this to happen, we have to embrace the influence that we have received from God. 

In the text in the book of John, Jesus proclaims that His followers (anyone) who believed in Him would do more extraordinary things than He did. What a statement!!! The idea is that Jesus wants us as His followers to accomplish feats of greatness beyond what He did, which suggests that there is also an internal capacity within followers to do things beyond the ordinary.

Interestingly, the disciples were up to this challenge, relying on their faith in Jesus' proclamation and the influence of the Holy Spirit to achieve more for God. The disciples embraced this call to influence, which demonstrably directly impacted the effectiveness of their ministries and their abilities to fulfill their callings. 

The realization that following Jesus was the route to influence was important to their success. To enjoy the benefits of our walk with Christ, understanding the power we have as followers and the resources we have is vital. No matter how we see ourselves or what position we hold in life or within an organization, we must live out Christ's words to make an impact for God, no matter how small it may look. The greatness of our work is not necessarily in the size of what we do or in how many people we reach, but it is in our simple obedience to Christ's instructions per time and our faith in His words.

 So let us embrace our influence no matter how small we think it is.  

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for not leaving me without power and influence. Thank you for making me a light in my world. Lord, help me to embrace the gifts, resources, and leverage that you have given me. May the light of your power shine through me. Use me to make an impact in my world today to do more extraordinary things for your glory.