Choosing Influencers

As Jesus said

….If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.

Matthew 15: 14

Hence, we have to choose our influencers VERY carefully.

Some of us fall for good looks and trendy styles when we lookout for friends. Watch out!!! Appearances can be deceptive… Again as Jesus said

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:15

People can come to you looking like they are innocent and helpful, but they might have wrong intentions at heart – to use you for their benefit, to cheat you, to cause you trouble or to just hurt you!

So how to distinguish between the right and wrong people?

Let us open the treasure book to find clues

OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK

We already learned that when God looks at a person, he searches the heart (What does God notice in ME?). We are not capable of doing that, but definitely we can see what proceeds out of their heart.

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:43-45

God made beautiful trees and each of those trees produce fruits according to their kind. It is universal that an apple tree bears apples, an orange tree bears oranges and a lemon tree bears lemons. These fruits do not come from thorn bushes. Each of the trees are known by the fruit they bear. Same way, people can be distinguished by the fruit they bear. A good person bears good fruit and an evil person bears evil fruit. A good person cannot bear bad fruit and a bad person cannot bear good fruit.

What is fruit borne by a person?

Fruit borne by a person is his / her speech and action. Speech and action proceeds out of the heart and reflects the heart’s contents. Because, out of the abundance of heart, the mouth speaks. Only if your heart is filled with good, good actions will proceed out. Same way, if the heart is filled with evil only evil actions proceed, how much ever people try to pretend otherwise.

Examples of bad and good fruits

Few of the bad and good fruits are given in Galatians 5:19 – 22

Bad Fruits

All kinds of sexual immorality, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, jealousy & envy, extreme anger, heated arguments & disagreements, selfish ambitions, rebellion against God’s true word, murder, drunkenness & loud alcohol partying, etc.

Good Fruits

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, etc.

Treasures uncovered

Before letting a person influence you,

Be alert and watch the actions & words that proceed out of a person. See if their actions are against the will of God or if it aligns with God’s will. Do not let evil people influence you, but at the same time you can be their influencer – help them change their ways by bringing them close to the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for teaching us that it is important to choose the right people to be our influencers. Help us to be watchful and understand the contents of a person’s heart before letting them influence us. Help us to bear good fruit and influence our friends in the right way and help them come closer to you. In Jesus name Amen!

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