The Cambridge Dictionary defines influence as “the power to have an effect on people or things”. We’d like to think we do not have any influence not so ever to be free to do whatever we like. But, no, that’s not how it works.

We influence and we are influenced by people we meet and by things we read and watch. So what to do? We need to choose what kind of person we want to become and what kind of legacy we want to leave. Hence it does matter how we use our time and how we fill our hearts and minds.

The Holy Spirit backed influence

We need to choose our influence. May I recommend the Holy Spirit backed influence? Even though when it comes to choosing our influence, we don’t necessarily think about the Holy Spirit. But, nonetheless, the Holy Spirit backed influence is the best kind we can give or get.

Only the Holy Spirit leads us in God’s ways. Otherwise, we are influenced by our own or other peoples’ minds. Any mind that is not influenced by the Holy Spirit is not an ideal leader because it leads us away from Christ.

…is the aroma of Christ we spread

When we let the Holy Spirit lead us, we’re spread the heavenly fragrance wherever we go. We can think of Christian influence as leaving the aroma of Christ. It’s the Holy Spirit through his people influencing the people they meet. That is how lives are changed and heaven touches us here and now.

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. (2 Cor. 2:14-16, MSG,*)

So, yes, we need to choose what kind of fragrance we want to leave wherever we go. We need to choose if we want to become more Christ-like and spread the aroma of Christ. If we do, we know what we need to do. The more we abide in Christ, the more we give off the sweet scent of him and the more Holy Spirit backed influence we have.

Let us pray

Gracious God,
We want to get to know you more,
to be filled with the Holy Spirit,
and spread the aroma of Christ.
So we surrender to you, Lord.
Make us influencers for you.
May your light and love spread like wild fire
to all who we meet.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Who/what does influence you? What kind of legacy do you leave?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you let the Holy Spirit back your influence and spread the aroma of Christ wherever you go!

*[As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Photo by Peter Forster on Unsplash.Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday, Worth Beyond Rubies.