Influence

I thought a lot about influence yesterday. We can be influenced or we can influence. At different times they both can be good or bad. In Mark chapter 12 the Pharisees came up to Jesus and said:


Mark 12:14 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Of course these kind words from the pharisees were only to set him up for a trap, but they are still true. Jesus was never influenced in an unhealthy way. He didn't change his stance right before he was crucified to try to get out of it, he also did not let the total lost-ness of man depress him, or the fact that people were out to destroy him bring him down to the point were it disabled him from doing what needed to be done. I don't think Jesus ever thought he had a bad day. Obviously he had very difficult days. Jesus was influenced by his Father, and lead by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is influenced positively to compassion by people that are hurting. We need to be influencers of truth in peoples lives, and not influenced by lies. No matter how bad the situation is there is a truth of God that should allow us continue on in faith. If we are influenced by lies we become bound up, trapped, caught in a downward spiral. The truth of God loosens, releases and breaks the spiral. Lord influence me today, and help me to influence others today with your truth!