Care Instructions for a Life Worth Living- July 30, 2020

Spiritual Influence Near the end of every year they begin to surface, splashed on the covers of magazines and as lead stories on TV news and entertainment programs. You have seen them and so have I: the top-ten and top-hundred lists that tell us about the world’s richest, most beautiful, most powerful, and most influential people, spanning the worlds of business, sports, entertainment, politics, and media. Updated annually, some of these collections actually give last year’s ranking right next to this year’s just to let us know who has climbed the ladder or fallen from grace. Have you ever found yourself feeling bad for some celebrity or politician on the list who has tumbled from number twenty-five last year to number eighty-seven this year? Fashion police have a huge influence over style. They can make a declaration that bell-bottoms are back, and much of the population will head to the malls or dig in the back of their closets to find clothes they have not worn for years. In the same way, they can announce that square-rimmed glasses are out of style and countless people who loved their glasses a month ago will refuse to wear their suddenly “old-fashioned” eyewear. Sadly, the most important influence of all never seems to end up on the cover of magazines or featured on popular TV shows. It is spiritual influence — the ability of one person to impact another human being’s character, relationship with God, and even their immortal soul. Every follower of Jesus has been blessed with people in their life who have exercised positive spiritual influence. And, likewise, every Christian should also be using their God-given spiritual influence to impact the lives of others. This kind of influence is utterly unrelated to titles, positions, human status, or worldly achievements. It is based on how closely we are connected to the heart of God, how passionately we follow Jesus, and how openly we are letting the Holy Spirit control our words and actions. Spiritual influence is the primary way that Christian community grows; it is the pathway to spiritual formation. As we model spiritual maturity, teach each other, pray for one another, love, rebuke, and encourage, God will use us to leave his fingerprints all over what matters most to him — people. This influence, at the end of the day, is not so much about us as it is about the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual influence weaves through friendships, family, the church, the world — every relationship we have. Pray for eyes to see those who have exercised spiritual influence on you, and remember with a grateful heart all they have done. Invite the Spirit of God to move within you in fresh, new ways so that you might be a positive spiritual influence on the people God has placed around you.

Bible Gateway Recommendations

Buy Now If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat Did you find this devotional helpful and inspiring? Read the book for more!

Copyright Information © 2014 by Zondervan. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Visit JohnOrtberg.com for more about John Ortberg's work and ministry. Subscription Information

This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog by Bible Gateway, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA. This email is part of a devotional or newsletter that you signed up for on BibleGateway.com. For information regarding our privacy policy, click here. If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please contact us.

*Manage all Bible Gateway subscriptions — *Opt Out of all Bible Gateway communication

                                                                                                                                                 

*the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally For a treasure box of Spurgeon  here for audio and       Bible Study Material Free Shipping On Orders of $30 Or More (continental U.S., excludes digital products) SHOP THE SALE SHOP THE SALE SHOP THE SALE Bible Study Material Free shipping info  Take $2 off $30+ Coupon code:JULY Take $3 off $45+ Coupon code:ROAD Take $4 off $55+ Coupon code:TRIP Offer Expires 11:59pm on 07/31/2020 Take $2 off $30+ Coupon code:JULY Take $3 off $45+ Coupon code:ROAD Take $4 off $55+ Coupon code:TRIP Affiliate marketer links: Affiliate marketer Rick Livermore with Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog will earn a commission on the Bible Study Material you buy from faith gateway storealibris.  Brought to you by Rick Livermore and Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog    If you would like to offset my expenses of producing all this free content, but you want to pass on buying  materials from faith gateway store and alibris, feel free to give a little something-------Give through PayPal----- I live in San Juan Capistrano California now  a fan of tubitv.com/category/faith_and_spiritualityalso  tubitv.com/channels/dovechannel also Greek and Hebrew Tools on the Internet also a fan of   94 FM The Fish Nashville also a fan of various The Fish stations all over the country The most important link on this blog is this one about cures to the coronavirus.  Landmark info about the treatment of severe cases of the COVID-19 virus Also this one about vaccines that immunize people from catching the coronavirus Then there is this one about copper as a weapon to combat this virus. This one could save some lives about the Red Cross. This one is a plasma cure link.