Almost every American has some type of social media platform. It may be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X). We do our best to stay informed about who is doing what and we want the world to know what we are doing so we post. We hope our postings gain followers so that our influence will be felt. But whether or not you have a platform, you have influence.
You have no idea how one conversation, one word of encouragement or one expression of love can change someone’s life forever.
Jesus calls those that follow him a couple of things: salt and light in Matthew 5:13-16. Salt purifies, preserves and adds flavor. Light a match in a dark room and it illuminates. So, as people who believe, Jesus says you have influence. Each of us have a circle of influence in our lives. These are people you have access to and no one else does: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers. Jesus is reminding us that influence always starts with people, never a platform.
So, read the story of Jesus’ interaction with a woman who was not wanted or seen in her community. She was broken, messed up, divorced 5 times, shacking up with her boyfriend and a community outcast. Yet, Jesus interacted with her and in doing so, unlocked her ability to influence others for Jesus. That story can be found in John 4 and it’s a wonderful reminder to all of us, God only uses broken people in his story. You don’t need anything but Jesus.
By the end of the story in John 4, this woman that her community had kicked to the curb brought the entire village out to meet Jesus. And the story ends by saying many of them believed in Jesus as the Messiah before he left the village. It just goes to show you, no matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, Jesus can use you in his story.
This is a season of giving upon us. So it’s our opportunity to be Jesus to those around us and show them how Jesus can change their lives for the better. It’s a chance to be salt and light in your life. You don’t need 4000 followers to be an influencer, just focus on the one person standing right in front of you. Blessings on the journey.