The Power Of Influence by Paul Smithson
(http://www.examiningthescriptures.com/)
I fondly remember one evening when my oldest son was about three years old. I was sitting on the couch in the living room with my legs crossed, looking at a magazine. At first I had not paid much attention, but my son had come over and sat down beside me. I coughed and then he coughed. Then I noticed that he was looking at me out of the corner of his eye, sitting there with his legs crossed and a little book in his lap. Every time I would turn a page, he would. Everything I did he did. This caused me to think about the great influence that each of us has of which we must be constantly aware.
One of the most striking ways the Bible teaches us concerning the power of influence is with the illustration of leaven. The statement, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough" is stated twice in Scripture (1Cor. 5:6, Gal. 5:9). In fact, the word "leaven" is used 11 times in the New Testament. In each place it is used with reference to the pervading power of influence. Leaven is a substance that causes fermentation, like yeast. When only a small amount is added to a large lump of dough it ferments the whole lump. Though it is small in quantity it permeates the whole substance with which it comes in contact. So it is with influence; it only takes a little to have a great effect.
Influence can be either for the good or bad. The kind of influence we have on others is based on what we allow to influence ourselves. If we are not careful some influences may be slowly corrupting and changing us. One can see the influencing power of leaven by the way that it changes the dough. When leaven is allowed to come in contact with the dough, even though the change is slow and gradual, it eventually changes that entire lump completely. The dough's shape, temperature, and smell are all affected. If we allow the leaven of this world to influence us, our lives will slowly be changed from what God would have them to be into lives filled with worldliness and sin. It only takes one companion with wicked thoughts and lifestyle to gradually lead you into the same kind of sin. It only takes allowing ourselves to watch, read, or listen to things that are immoral, and ungodly to become insensitive to sin. A single movie or book filled with lewdness and filth can infect the mind and lead to the desire for a deeper acquaintance with evil. All types of evil influences are all around us and we must beware. We must "abstain from every form of evil" and "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (1Thess. 5:22; Rom. 12:21).
We must be on guard lest we are influenced by the evil things of this world, always being sure we are having the proper influence on others. God will not only hold us accountable for what we allow to influence ourselves, but will also hold us accountable for the influence we have on those around us.
Whether we think so or not, there is someone who is watching us. Consciously or not, someone is being influenced by our words and actions. Though what we do and say might seem insignificant, in reality our influence has a far-reaching effect. We have influence in our community, in the work place, and especially in our homes. Children are mainly molded by the kind of influence they receive from their parents. Children who are influenced by parents who are worldly minded and insensitive toward sin, will grow up to have the same mind set. But if the influence they receive is good, seeing parents whose interest is in spiritual things, abhorring evil and clinging to what is good, they are going to be lead to have the proper attitude in life (Prov. 22:6).
We must never allow our influence to become a stumbling block to others. As Jesus declared, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" (Matt. 18:6-7). What are you allowing to influence your life? What kind of influence are you having on those around you?
What Do You Want to Believe? By Mark Roberts
Reprinted from The Awesome Truth (teen@biblical-insights.org)
"...Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:10-12).
An article in the Dallas Morning News recently told of a local "faith healer" who now claims that gold dust rains down from heaven upon his hair, clothes and those who surround him as he preaches. Indeed, many of Reverend Bob Shattles' followers have seen the gold dust gild his clothing and face, and even it had it fall on them. Of course, independent tests, collecting the dust from four different appearances of these evangelists claiming the gold dust phenomenon, revealed that it is not real gold, but nothing but cheap plastic glitter.
That is not surprising but what is amazing is that the reporter in the story couldn't get anyone to be interested in the results of those tests. None of the people who were so excited about the gold dust's appearing were interested in the tests, or whether the gold was real or not. How can that be? Shattles claims this is a sign of God's approval on his ministry, yet the gold is phony? What kind of sign is that? Yet, one man said, "I never considered to have it tested, I just believe God, I don't doubt it."
Could it be that these people believe in the gold dust phenomenon despite the evidence, not because of the evidence? Could it be that these folks believe in this because they want to? Indeed!
Now the text of 2 Thessalonians 2 makes sense. We believe what we want to believe, and God will allow us to do just that. If you want to believe the world is flat, you can. If you want to believe the moon is made of green cheese, you can. If you want to believe a man has gold dust descend on him from heaven, because that is neat, makes you feel good, or validates your peculiar religious beliefs, then you can. God will let you believe what you want to believe. All of that highlights the central phrase in our text: "because they did not receive the love of the truth." There's the key. We must want to believe the truth. We must want the truth above all else. We must desire the truth even when it hurts, when it shatters our preconceived notions, when it makes us repent, change or do differently. We must want the truth more than anything else. It and it alone can save. To want anything less is to open us up to every kind of religious lie and delusion - even the lunacy of believing glitter is gold.
What do you want to believe? (Please Read Proverbs 23:23 and John 8:31-32).
It was a surreal experience. Recently, I pulled out of my driveway one morning to go to the church building. Passing by a neighbor's house, I saw Phil working in his front yard. I had just become acquainted with Phil a few weeks before, discovering that we were alumni of Middle Tennessee State University in Indiana. I had invited him to our gospel meeting and handed him a Bible tract. I thought he would be a good contact to later talk about the Bible.
What was my surreal experience? When I passed by Phil working in his yard, little did I realize that he had only a few more hours to live! He died later that afternoon of a heart attack. He was just 53! How clearly I remember waving to him, looking into his eyes as he smiled and waved back at me. How striking it is that he who was so very much alive would shortly be forever dead. The brevity of life and the finality of death again vividly strike me. Indeed, our life is but a vapor.
In our text, James warns us against us thinking that our future
agenda is guaranteed. "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you
do not know what a day may bring forth" (Prov 27:1). No one
knows what tomorrow holds, whether we will be found in his earthly
pursuits or in the presence of a vast and never ending eternity.
We are mortal. As surely as we are here today, one day we will
not be here. Like a vapor of smoke, we're here today and gone
tomorrow. All of us have an inevitable interview with the eternal
God on the other side of this fleeting life (Ecc 12:13). Then,
what will all our trivial pursuits on earth matter?
Life often seems like a blur. We're all just one heartbeat from
eternity. We must remember to forever tie our lives to Him who
changes not. He holds a greater reward than anything this temporal
earth can offer.
James also calls it an arrogant evil to live without considering God's will. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov 1:7). We cannot count right if we do not reckon God's will in at the beginning of each day. We should make God's agenda our agenda. By faith, living one day at a time as a spiritual pilgrim bound for that eternal shore, we should serve our God honestly and openly. In His will, not our selfish pursuits, we find our greatest peace and highest happiness (Jn 13:17). For His faithful children, we know that keeping focused on a God-centered life is the best way to prepare for the next life.
There is a record being kept in heaven of everything, both public and private, of what we think, say and do. Every day is made for the judgment day. We shall give an account for them all (Ecc 12:13-14; 2 Cor 5:10). Praise God, Christians can find forgiveness for our sins in Christ, with genuine repentance, confession and daily consecration (2 Cor 7:10-12; 1 Jn 1:8-9).
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