30 For 30 Challenge: Day 19
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Who do you influence? This was a question asked in your small groups Wednesday night. Hopefully, a few names or groups of people came to mind. Today's devotion I want you to keep that question in mind. Acts 1:8 is a powerful verse that is used to talk about spreading the Gospel. This is Luke's version of Jesus' last words on earth to His disciples. As soon as Jesus said these words He ascended into heaven right in front of the disciples. Jesus was essentially predicting the spread of the Gospel through the world, showing the disciples the role they would play in it. Today we are going to use this verse to help talk about influence about our potential to impact the world around us.
In this verse, Jesus painted for His disciples an ever-expanding view of how the Gospel would impact the disciples would have on their most immediate surroundings. He then mentioned Judea and Samaria, the regions just north of Jerusalem; Jesus showed them how their message would spread beyond the local level. Finally, Jesus mentions the "ends of the world". This represented the farthest, most extreme level the Gospel would reach. Your Jerusalem is your school, your work, and your community. Your influence starts with those around you. In some cases, it's easier to go on mission trips or service projects outside of Obion County, but those mean nothing if we aren't willing to make an impact in the lives of our own county.
Part of helping you think about your influence and impact is getting you to define your reach.
Write out the people you have the most influence over you. These are the people you know the best or around the most. Now think of acquaintances the ones you know but aren't really close at school, work, or wherever that you may not know super-well, but that you still interact with on a regular basis. Finally, write out the people you may not know much about or might take work to be an influence toward. These may be those that have hurt you or those that you may hear negative things about. This is a challenge sometimes, and it takes trusting God to forgive or to be a positive influence in their life. Maybe they too entered into a relationship with God at some point but went off the deep end. Think of someone that may fit that description.
This is the first step in thinking about your influence. As we mentioned Wednesday night we are called to be a light that points those around us to Christ. Are you being a Christ-like influencer to those around you?
In this verse, Jesus painted for His disciples an ever-expanding view of how the Gospel would impact the disciples would have on their most immediate surroundings. He then mentioned Judea and Samaria, the regions just north of Jerusalem; Jesus showed them how their message would spread beyond the local level. Finally, Jesus mentions the "ends of the world". This represented the farthest, most extreme level the Gospel would reach. Your Jerusalem is your school, your work, and your community. Your influence starts with those around you. In some cases, it's easier to go on mission trips or service projects outside of Obion County, but those mean nothing if we aren't willing to make an impact in the lives of our own county.
Part of helping you think about your influence and impact is getting you to define your reach.
Write out the people you have the most influence over you. These are the people you know the best or around the most. Now think of acquaintances the ones you know but aren't really close at school, work, or wherever that you may not know super-well, but that you still interact with on a regular basis. Finally, write out the people you may not know much about or might take work to be an influence toward. These may be those that have hurt you or those that you may hear negative things about. This is a challenge sometimes, and it takes trusting God to forgive or to be a positive influence in their life. Maybe they too entered into a relationship with God at some point but went off the deep end. Think of someone that may fit that description.
This is the first step in thinking about your influence. As we mentioned Wednesday night we are called to be a light that points those around us to Christ. Are you being a Christ-like influencer to those around you?
Pray:
Take time today to pray to God about those people you wrote down or thought about. Then, think about how you can begin to impact these people and the people you experience everyday.
Take time today to pray to God about those people you wrote down or thought about. Then, think about how you can begin to impact these people and the people you experience everyday.
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