During a recent morning blog writing session, I had set the empty coffee cup that I was using that morning beside the one that I didn’t take to the sink the day before. They weren’t identical, but I couldn’t remember which one I was using. When I picked them both up to take them to the kitchen, I knew right away which one was that morning’s cup.
The persistence of the heat in that cup is a great illustration of how our influence on other people can leave an impact for a long time. Even after we have passed from this life, the example that we set for others will remain. What type of example are we providing for our families, our neighbors, our co-workers and others with whom we have contact?
Jesus compared us to salt and light to illustrate the kind of influence we are to have on others. Those who hide themselves from this duty have no value to the kingdom. (Matthew 5:13-16)
Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-2 how the Christians there were to present their bodies as living sacrifices and were not to be conformed to this world, but rather they were to be transformed in order to prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Should we as Christians today not be held to this same standard?
In regard to the duration of our influence, we merely need to look at the impact that the Bible has had on individuals since the time of its compilation. Those who wrote down God’s word are still helping to lead many to Christ even though they have long been gone from this world.
How will we be remembered? Will those at our funeral say “You could really see Christ in this one’s life,” or will it be a surprised “This person was a Christian?”
How are you representing Christ?
Daily Bible reading for June 22
Proverbs 23-24
Deuteronomy 23:15-25:19
Amos 9
Matthew 5:1-16
June 22, 2013
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