You are important to our world. Your presence makes a difference. How? God has made you to be a shining example of His love and grace to a dying world. You could say that God raises you up to be an influencer.
Be encouraged by this quote from Day Springs, Never Forgotten Always Loved, September 4, “The place where you live is blessed because you are there. Having your citizenship in heaven means good citizenship on earth. Your presence influences your city’s laws, environment, government, and economy. You make it a better place to live, a stronger place to work, and a safer place to play. You help to raise its standards, guard its gates, strengthen its borders, and broaden its influence.”
When God has gotten your attention, where you turn around and receive His salvation through His Son by repenting of your sins and have understanding that you will trust God, believe Jesus, and follow the Holy Spirit, a whole new level of existence opens up for you. God gives you full access to Himself and all that He owns as well as completing eternal work that needs to be done on this side of heaven.
Everything you do becomes life giving and eternal.
Those who are successful in the world without walking whole-heartedly with God are influencing their surroundings. The only difference is their influence is about themselves and it ends when God takes them off this earth. An obedient child of God, who puts God first will live his life for heaven, not earth.
Putting God first gives you clear direction in how to live each day. When you follow His plan for living life, God enable you to flourish. You learn His pattern for successful living by studying His Holy Word. As you grow in the image of His Son, you become an eternal influencer.
Psalms 1 says, “Oh, the joys of the those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked (those who follow the world more than God)! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”
Walking in the ways of the Lord is vital to society. People live safe and secure lives when God is made top priority. The United States has seen blessings and prosperity over the last 248 years because our Founding Fathers created a land that honored God’s ways. Over time, we are seeing the decay of living correctly, and people are suffering for it. It will continue to decay unless people are willing to repent and turn back to God and His Ways.
What is God asking of you? Are you willing to follow Him over what you desire? Obedience to Him changes homes, work places, and neighborhoods. People are healthier mentally and physically. Unity and productivity flourish where people are happy and content. May you choose the influence of God in your life and see where He will take you to help others flourish in Christ.
Carol J German 