Each Friday my writing stems from a word prompt. Five minutes, one word prompt. The prompt this week is … Influence.
Influence has been defined as “the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others” (from dictionary.com).
Our lives influence for good or bad, at all times, and to those around us. The question becomes: What sort of influence will my life be?
We all can produce profoundly good effects to the people around us which will bring glory to God. Jesus put it this way:
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.”
(Matthew 5:13, NLT)
Here Jesus is telling us that as we go about our everyday life, rubbing shoulders with those around us, our lives have influence. We can permeate society and have a good influence, producing a good effect.
Salt preserves flavor and prolongs shelf-life and so our lives can bear influence which will hinder the moral decay of those around us.
But Jesus also warns us not to lose our saltiness. We are not to let the world’s influence convince us to live impure or we will lose our ability to impact change in a positive and godly manner.
Let’s take our influence seriously, guarding our lives so that we do not lose our effectiveness by polluted thinking and opinions.
“We’re bringing influences everyday, and the life that you live proves what’s on the inside of you. You cannot change that. It reflects. Every person reflects outside, what he is inside.” (William Branham)
Our lives have influence,
let’s impact in a positive manner that has eternal value.
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith On Fire and Fresh Market Friday and Faith ”˜N Friends .
Amen!
Jo, (do people call you Jo?)
I like seeing how writers treat the word prompt. You went first person. I went in the direction of what has influenced me. Interesting. Does that make me narcissistic?
Yes, many call me Jo …
I am not sure what that makes you as I enjoyed your post. We need to think about the influences we let into our lives as they greatly impact the influence we will then have. I saw it as equally important.
Thanks, Joanne, for a grave reminder: the influence we think we want comes with a huge price tag and a heavy responsibility. We are dependent upon grace to wear it well.
Amen, Michele!
“Let’s take our influence seriously, guarding our lives so that we do not lose our effectiveness by polluted thinking and opinions.” –> Yes, this is so good and something that has been on my mind this week. Happy Friday, friend! xo
such truth! I love how differently (even if slightly) all of the FMF posts are. I sometimes wonder which challenges us more, the prompt or the sharing of perspectives…
Misty, I so agree as the word prompts take each of us in different directions. This is one of my favorite weekly linkups.
Hi, Joanne. Coming from FMF today. The “salt” verse is a perfect example of what we are to be before others.
Joanne, you use your influence in such a positive way every day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Love the “salt of the earth” verse!
Much appreciated, Laurie. I pray it will always be so.
To put it metallurgical terms, we have to be the cathode, gaining and not losing our substance when in contact with the world.
Great post!
You said it well, Andrew!