Wednesday, May 23, 2018

"Influencing"

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat."  Genesis 3:6

Yesterday we looked at one of the lessons we learn from the life of Eve.  It was: our choices have consequences, and our choices not only affect us but others.  So we need to make right choices, choices based on obedience to God's Word.

Today there is another lesson I want to discuss from Eve's life:  your life has an influence on someone else.  The Bible says that Eve gave the forbidden fruit to her husband who was with her.  She influenced, through her actions and words, her husband to disobey the Lord.  She was not a good influence. 

The influence we have will either be a good influence or a bad influence.  Which kind of influence are you?  You may not think you are influencing someone but you are.  We influence our spouses, our children, our friends, our family members, classmates, those we attend church with, work with, are involved in different groups with, even strangers we have encounters with while going about our daily tasks.

There is always someone watching your life.  There is always someone who is listening to what you say.  There is always someone who is learning from you.  The question is, "What are they learning, seeing and hearing?".  Is it something good?  Something that will encourage them, build them up, increase their faith, help them go the right direction in life, help them get closer to the Lord, make good decisions and choices?  Or is it something bad?  Something that will cause them to get discouraged, give up on life, turn away from the Lord, stop pursuing righteous things, become negative, make poor choices and go in the wrong direction?  Think about it.  Watch what you do because someone is watching you.

Have a great day.  Your life is influencing someone else, whether you realize it or not.  Is it a good or bad influence?      

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