The Direction of Influence

The Direction of Influence

📖 Scripture

“You are the light of the world.”
— Matthew 5:14

🌿

One of the most beautiful things about Jesus is that He changed the direction of influence.

In the Old Testament, when something unclean touched something clean, the clean thing became unclean.

Uncleanness spread.

Contamination spread.

That was the reality of the Law.

But then Jesus came.

And everything changed.

The leper touched Jesus... and Jesus wasn't made unclean.

The leper was made clean.

The bleeding woman touched Jesus... and Jesus wasn't defiled.

She was healed.

The sinful, broken, rejected, and forgotten came near to Him...

And instead of their uncleanness spreading to Him, His holiness spread to them.

Jesus reversed the direction of influence.

❤️ Heart

As I thought about that this morning, it challenged me.

Because I have always heard—and still believe—that who we surround ourselves with matters.

It absolutely does.

Scripture is clear about the influence of our relationships.

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
— Proverbs 13:20

We've all seen it.

Spend enough time around bitterness and it starts affecting your heart.

Spend enough time around gossip and it starts affecting your words.

Spend enough time around sin and eventually it begins feeling normal.

The influence of others is real.

But there is another side to that truth.

Spend enough time around people who love God and your faith grows.

Spend enough time around people who encourage you and your courage increases.

Spend enough time around people who pursue holiness and you begin pursuing it too.

Influence works both ways.

And that's where Jesus stopped me.

Because sometimes Christians become so focused on avoiding the unclean that we forget our calling to reach them.

We become so concerned about being influenced...

That we stop influencing.

Now hear me clearly.

We need other believers.

We need Christian community.

We need people who strengthen us, challenge us, encourage us, and point us back to Christ.

Even Jesus spent intentional time with His disciples.

But Jesus never isolated Himself from those who needed Him most.

He entered their world.

He sat at their tables.

He listened to their stories.

He touched their lives.

Not with condemnation.

Not with judgment.

But with truth wrapped in love.

And that makes me wonder:

What if we woke up each morning believing God could use us that way?

What if instead of constantly fearing the influence others might have on us...

We trusted the influence Christ could have through us?

What if we looked for opportunities to bring:

Love where there is hatred.

Forgiveness where there is bitterness.

Grace where there is shame.

Hope where there is despair.

Kindness where there is hurt.

What if we became people who carried the presence of Jesus so consistently that when others encountered us...

They encountered Him?

Not because we're perfect.

Not because we're stronger.

But because we are connected to the One who makes all things clean.

Jesus never asked His disciples to hide from the world.

He asked them to be light in it.

“You are the light of the world.”
— Matthew 5:14

Light doesn't fear darkness.

Light enters darkness.

And darkness changes.

So yes...

Guard your heart.

Choose your influences wisely.

Stay connected to fellow believers.

But don't forget the mission.

There are hurting people all around us.

Broken people.

Lonely people.

People who need someone willing to sit beside them and show them what the love of Jesus looks like.

Not through judgment.

Not through condemnation.

But through patience.

Kindness.

Grace.

Mercy.

And love.

Because that's exactly how Jesus touched us.

✨ Takeaway

The goal isn't simply to avoid being influenced by the world.

The goal is to be so connected to Jesus that His influence flows through you into the lives of others.

🌱 Action Step

Think about one person in your life who may be struggling right now.

Not someone you need to fix.

Not someone you need to preach to.

Simply someone who needs to experience the love of Jesus.

This week, intentionally reach out.

Send a text.

Make a call.

Offer encouragement.

Pray for them.

Show kindness.

Let God's love flow through you in a practical way.

🙏 Prayer

Lord, help me stay rooted in You so deeply that Your presence overflows into the lives of others. Give me wisdom to choose healthy influences and courage to be an influence for Your Kingdom. Help me carry Your grace, mercy, kindness, and truth into a world that desperately needs You. Let others encounter Jesus through the way I love them. Amen.

💬 Reflection Question

Am I spending more energy protecting myself from influence...

Or allowing God to use me to influence others for Him?

🤍 If this encouraged you, share it with someone who may need the reminder that we are called to carry the light of Jesus into the world.