Follow the leader

Rodney Atkins released a song a few years ago, “Watching You.”  It’s about his little boy copying the things he sees his Dad doing, saying the words he hears his Dad saying.
“He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands

Spoke to God like he was talkin' to a friend

And I said, “Son, now where'd you learn to pray like that?”

He said,”I've been watching you, Dad, aint that cool?

I'm your buckaroo, I want to be like you.”  - Rodney Atkins - Watching You

A note showed up in my email thanking wrote me for the part I played in shaping the life of the writer.  "You have no idea how you have helped me, the ways in which your teaching changed me, and how much I value the example I see in you."   First of all, that is humbling.   Second, it was surprising given that I am not well acquainted with the writer.  We are only casual acquaintances and it would never have occurred to me that I had any influence in his life but, there it was, a simple note of gratitude.  It’s good to be reminded that someone is always watching.  My commitment to Christ is not secret and I aim to be an authentic disciple.  My daily prayer is that what others see in me will reflect well on the One I follow.

Disciple, if you've gone public about your faith (you should) others will be watching you, too.   Jesus talks about influence with two down to earth parables. 

"You don’t light a lamp and put it under a clay pot or under a bed. Don’t you put a lamp on a lampstand?" (Mark 4:21, CEV)  

"What is God’s kingdom like? What story can I use to explain it? It is like what happens when a mustard seed is planted in the ground. It is the smallest seed in all the world. But once it is planted, it grows larger than any garden plant. It even puts out branches that are big enough for birds to nest in its shade." (Mark 4:30-32, CEV)  We are to be like light and  growing seeds! 

Light is life-giving.  Light breaks the darkness driving fear away. It keeps us from stumbling around, falling over things,  and it raises our spirits.  I ask myself, 'are you influencing your world like that, Jerry?'   When you're around, do you bring life, hope, clarity, and encouragement?   

               

A seed is amazing, too.  Jesus spoke of a tiny seed that grew into a huge plant;  quietly, persistently, over time, drawing energy from sources outside of itself.  Again, I put a question to myself. 'Are you drawing on the power of the Spirit, growing in Christ and His character, so that there will be fruit and shade offered to others through you?'

Jesus said, "let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, NIV)  We are quietly influential-  loving someone, praying with and for someone, caring for our family, putting God first, being a person of integrity consistently.... and so much more.   What a calling.

When the thought of being a representative of Christ Jesus overwhelms me, I read this.  It reminds us that it is not all up to us, that He is working through us by His Spirit.  Let it stir you, encourage you, and challenge you.   "But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?" (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NLT)  

Yes, we are influential for our Lord.  A challenge too big for you or me?  Not if we are filled with the Spirit. "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NLT)

Who’s watching you?

Where are you leading them?

May the message of our lives today be -to friends, family, and the world - "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, NIV)

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