Have you ever been influenced?
Probably. Most advertisements are built around trying to get the public to buy their product. But how many of you have been influenced by an influencer on Instagram or Facebook or even TikTok?
I’ll admit, I have.
I have a nice steam mop that an influencer filmed herself using, getting all the nastiness up off her floor. Was I in the market for a steam mop? No, not at all, but it looked amazing doing all that work in her bathroom, so I added it to cart.
I also have a wonderful makeup bag with lots of slots for organizing brushes and various forms of makeup. I don’t really even like makeup, and post-hospital I wear it as little as possible. But I now own a lovely makeup bag to organize all the makeup I don’t wear.
The point is, we have all been influenced.
A quick Google search will show you that more than half of all young people say they would want to pursue a career as an influencer on a social media platform.
Now, I know the argument can be made that these young people have been heavily exposed to influencers for most of their lives, and they see it as a fun and viable career. Whereas my Gen X self grew up surrounded by more traditional careers.
However, I will say that I think part of wanting to be an influencer is something we are all born with. We want people to think the way we think. We want people to value our opinions and listen to what we have to say.
That form of influence can definitely be abused when people seek to draw people to themselves rather than to God. We see the results of that all around us.
The problem also is that, as flashy and fun as a social media influencer looks, that is not really the kind of influencer God is looking for. His kingdom is upside down.
However, what if God put that desire in us? What if He put the desire to influence those around us, so that we will draw people to Him, to draw people to the good news of Him?
At the end of Matthew, Jesus gives what is commonly known as the Great Commission. Before He ascends to heaven, after His resurrection, He gives His disciples directions.
Matthew 28:19 (NLT) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
In other words, go and tell all you have seen and done with Me. Tell people the good news of the gospel and of eternal life. Don’t keep this to yourselves. Go and make new disciples!
To God, making disciples means serving those around us, showing them God’s love, and sharing the good news of the gospel. It doesn’t mean we necessarily “have the microphone” with many people listening. Because it’s not really about us.
Sometimes making a disciple is helping our neighbor, taking a meal to a sick friend, praying for someone over the phone, or sending a card or a text to someone who needs encouragement.
Recently, I was speaking with a friend, and she told me she had been invited as a guest panelist for a women’s conference. She told me that she was a little intimidated because most of the other guests had a ministry and a website, and she didn’t.
I told her her voice was one people needed to hear, too. No shade on the women with the ministry and a website, but I have personally experienced this friend sending timely text messages and prayers when I needed encouragement.
No one was ever going to know what she did or for whom. She just quietly prayed for people and encouraged them because she listened to the Holy Spirit and moved when He said to move.
And isn’t that what God has called us to? To minister to people, to pray for people, to administer help whether anyone knows about it or not.
Matthew 6:5 (NLT) “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
It’s fun receiving accolades from people. Most everyone wants to be liked and sometimes even admired. But the very same people that like you today can easily seek to tear you down tomorrow.
But when we set out to do what God has called us to do, our reward rests with the Father and in heaven, where it will be eternal. Ministry is not always about holding the microphone. Influence is not always about the crowd you gather. Sometimes it is about stopping for the one.
I think our job is to pay attention to the people around us. Who has God planted in your life for this season? Who has God put in your path today? How does He want to partner with you to bring His Kingdom and His purposes to earth?
You may never know the impact of one conversation or one prayer prayed with a person. You may never know your true influence until you get to Heaven, but I think it will be worth it!
