Day 5 - Ps Steve & Ash Lawrance | Suncoast Church

HOW TO BE AN INFLUENCER: How to influence people for God

Did you know that even the most introverted people can influence thousands of people in their lifetime? In fact, sociologists believe that the average person will influence approximately 10,000 people in their lifetime. This means that the influence you have on a single person can create a ripple effect that influences the lives of countless others! What’s clearer than ever is that YOU matter! What you say, what you do, how you live - it all matters.

Funnily enough, this is exactly what Jesus is telling us in today’s Bible verse. Just like the influence that you have no matter who you are, for those who follow Jesus, we naturally have the light of the world within us. We often think that we need to grow our own influence, but Jesus doesn’t say “grow your light”; He says that you simply need to let your light shine. In other words, you already have so much influence; in fact, you’re a shining light in a dark world - just don’t hide it! Let your faith & influence be something that impacts others by being who Jesus has called us to be.

When it comes to making a difference in our teenage years, it can be so easy for us to box our lives into categories like: school is for study, work is for money, social media is for entertainment and youth is for Jesus. But what Jesus reminds us here is that your light doesn’t come and go based on your season of life or what you’re doing that day. In everything you’re doing each and every day, you are called and you have exactly what you need to influence the world for the Kingdom of God. You can let your light shine at school, at work, on social media, at sporting and social events - everywhere! So take a moment to think about all the different areas of your life and ask yourself the question, “How can my faith influence this?” Maybe that looks like doing an act of kindness each day at school, or being the encouraging person on the team, or posting uplifting content. Whatever it looks like for you, never underestimate the influence you have and the power of simply letting your light shine!