How Are You Living: The Power of Your Influence

Originally Written for the Sacred Desk

As I've written before, it's no secret that we're living in a very politically charged and divisive time, resulting in an influx of commentators, experts, and dialogue. And with that can come an array of confusion and a loss of message.

That applies to the church as well.

Within the body, I've always been skeptical since I was a young on the titles of "prophet" and "apostle." Though I firmly believe these are callings bestowed from God, as the Word says He does (Ephesians 4:10)  in my mind, what gives us the authority to appoint ourselves to such positions, when it's almost impossible to fully comprehend the immense responsibilities and influence tied to these positions while being relatable and maintaining your humanity?

And in recent years, I've been a little skeptical of the super feel good messages filling up my social media timelines that are infused with great potential Twitter post quotes, but have a deep lacking in actual scripture.

Now more than ever before, the world still needs Jesus...and they're looking for Him––and sometimes they are looking for Him in every single thing that might "look" like Him, but really isn't Him.

Scripture says, "There is one body, but it has many parts" (1 Cor. 12:12) and therefore, each of us has a responsibility to answer the call––which is to glorify God through the building of the kingdom, utilizing the gifts He's bestowed upon us in doing so.

And in a climate so in need of not just grace and mercy, but more so the love of Jesus, us answering the call and preaching the message of Jesus is a matter of life or death, that is often steered by the power of our influence.

I was about six-years-old when I gave my life to Christ. I was attending a special service at another church with my mom and aunts, and CeCe Winans I was either preaching or doing a concert. I remember at the end she gave this soothing invitation to those who didn't know Christ to be welcomed into His love and grace. I may have been young, but I felt this urge to go.

Now of course, I knew who CeCe was, my parents were huge fans because they too were singers, and I'm sure her influence in my life musically may have played a role in me paying attention to what she was saying. So, I asked my mother to take me up...and just like that, I gave my life to the Lord.

In that moment, I had no idea what I was actually signing up for, BUT it was the placement of leaders in my life years later that would help lead me in the direction of my purpose.

I connected with my Brother in Christ Manny in college in a super inconvenient way––please notice how I placed emphasis on inconvenient. I was a sophomore and really just...lost.

My dad passed unexpectedly the semester before, I was trying to find out who I was in Christ now at this stage in grief which had so many facets, and I was looking for answers. I felt like I reached a plateau in my faith and I was just fighting to get out of this uneasy place. Through it all, I went to chapel every Sunday and even got involved in ministry.

One Sunday, Manny shoved me into a door panel. I was caught off guard...but played it off. I'm not sure if he had his trumpet in his hand or what, but I remember playing it off because I thought it was an accident––I was SO WRONG. And every week, he kept doing it and eventually would yell, "Hi, Nicole!" Did I mention this was EVERY week? I didn't know this man, only saw him on Sundays and during school games because he was in the band, so in my head this random person shoving me every week just to say, "Hi" was weird.

Then one week instead of a shove and a super loud greeting, he said to me in a super still voice, "Your arms are too short to box with God." I don't remember what happened next, but I knew in that moment it seemed something shifted, and within the weeks to follow, I began questioning what he meant by that...

"Your arms are too short to box with God."

How did he know I was fighting? Plus, I didn't think I was fighting God...per say...well maybe...okay I most certainly was...but I was angry and upset and confused. I deserved this fight!

But..."your arms are too short to box with God."

Eventually, Manny sat me down and gave me a much needed pep talk about my life and my purpose––it was almost as if him and God had a whole meeting, didn't invite me, and God told Manny allllll my business. It wasn't fair...but it was needed.

I realized later from that pep talk that I was running––and not just from myself, but I was running from God and His call on my life. Truthfully, there are still days I question if I'm cut out for the platforms that God has assigned to me, but it's not my job to question––just to say, "Yes" and obey.

We are all called to bring people to Jesus, even if that means going out to them (or shoving them). Now how we get their attention to bring Him is one thing, but how effective our offering of Jesus to people in need of Him really relies heavily on our living and our influence, especially for preachers of the Gospel.

How we are living and leading by example truly matters. Titus 2:7-8 talks about the importance of being a display of goodness, meanwhile Matthew 5:13-16 reminds of how heavy our impact is.

You are the salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is now longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. You are the light of the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights on a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven."

Think about how many of our ancestors listed in the Bible weren't afraid to shine their light before all, abiding by the call on their lives and remaining obedient to God.

Also think about how their examples not only changed the lives of others around them, but those same people who watched them began to fall into submission to God because of the light they saw shine.

The light in the three Hebrew boys shined through to King Nebuchadnezzar while the boys were in the fiery furnace, and he submitted God (Daniel 3).
The light in Joseph shined through to Pharaoh while Joseph was in jail, and Pharaoh submitted to God (Genesis 41).
The light in Moses shined through to Pharaoh while the Israelites were in exile, and Pharaoh had to submit to God (Exodus 5).
The light in Ruth shined through to Boaz (Ruth 2).
The light in Esther shined through to the king and saved her people (Esther 8).
The light in Mary shined through the birth of Jesus and He saved the world (Matthew 1).

From the perspective of understanding our influence and bridging the gap between God and His people, Abraham stood in the gap for the righteous that may have been mixed in with the wicked in Sodom and Gomorrah. He pleaded with God that even if there were only ten righteous people out of the maybe thousands of wicked for God to spare the ten, and God obliged.

And in the same way, Jesus does that for us––constantly standing in the gap on our behalf, reasoning our case, justifying us even in our wrongs.

On a personal level, think of some of our mothers, fathers, friends, family members, leaders, and pastors who answered the call of God, and if they didn't where would we be right now in this moment?

Had it not been for the prayers of our leaders––someone standing in the gap for us––where would we be?
Had it not been for their example and influence on our lives, would we be the believers we are today?
Had Manny not shoved me, had a heart of Christ, and his influence through the Holy Spirit to get my attention, only God knows where I would be––and it most definitely would not be here writing this.

So on this last week of Clergy Appreciation Month, let us remember our leaders and thank God for them. Let us remember to pray for our leaders as the Word of God calls us to do in 1 Timothy 2:2. And while we remember our leaders and their influence on us, let us never forget the ultimate influencer, Jesus Christ, who came not just for you, but for the world. May you shine your light so that others may be inspired by your example and want to get to know the Christ shining through you.

xo, Nic.