I've been thinking about influence...

I've been thinking about influence. 

One of my prominent memories from my time in Chi Alpha Memphis was something that our pastor, Matt, taught us during one of our discipleship classes (D-Class). He described the importance for us, as leaders and followers of Christ, to not be like thermometers, but thermostats.

What’s the difference between living your life like a thermometer and like a thermostat? 

Well, a thermometer measures the temperature of the space that it’s in. It reflects the climate of it’s environment as the temperature makes the mercury inside of it rise or lower according to what the temperature is. It is only being influenced. A thermostat, on the other hand, sets the tone of it’s environment by changing the temperature to an appropriate level whether it be hot, cold, or in the middle. A thermostat influences the climate around it to change according to whoever sets it.

Paul the Apostle is one of my favorite thermostats in the bible.

He’s a prime example of someone that uses his God-driven influence well to guide others in the church back onto the right path such as in Galatians 2 when he confronted Peter’s hypocrisy. In this instance, Peter acted like a thermometer when he succumbed to the pressure of being judged by the Jewish believers for eating/socializing with the Gentile believers. Paul was the thermostat by confronting Peter for contradicting his principles and reverting back to obeying Jewish traditions.

As the years have gone by, I can honestly say that I have been wrong in many of my personal situations where I had the opportunity to utilize the influence I had as a Christian for better or worse. I’ve had moments in my life where I had thoughts that turned out to be negative or even toxic towards situations such as:

• My opinion doesn’t matter.

• I’m not important so I wouldn’t have much of an influence anyway.

• I don’t want to cause more issues.

• It’s not my problem anyway.

• My different opinion will upset my friends/classmates so I’ll just not say anything.

I would stay quiet on important matters and avoid conflicting with whatever the vibe of the room not entirely realizing that my silence, in turn, affirmed the negative/wrong behavior. I didn’t believe that I could have made a difference. These were all lies I told myself, and I’m sure a lot of you who read this email can relate.

God says otherwise. You have a special purpose that is fulfilled by Him. The fact that you are His child and His AMBASSADOR shows that He has given you a special kind of influence (2 Corinthians 5:20).

However, it is up to you whether you decide to use this influence that God gifted you with and called you to use, and how you decide to use it. This goes especially to those of you who consider yourselves leaders in your communities.

Whether you’re the type to be a social butterfly, making friends with everyone in church or Chi Alpha, or the type who is more reserved, off in the corner sticking mostly with your group of friends, or someone who’s somewhere in the middle, your influence matters.

You Matter.