A young Salesperson was disappointed. He had lost an important sale. In discussing the matter with the Sales Manager, the young man shrugged and said, “I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water, but you can not make him drink.” “Son,” said the Sales Manager, “Let me give you a piece of advice: your job is not to make him drink. It’s to make him thirsty.”

As followers of Christ, our job is not to make people understand Jesus, it’s to live a life that makes people want Jesus. For how can anyone truly understand something they don’t really want to know about? Our lives should be lived in such a way that people see joy in the midst of our challenges. Hope in the midst of our pain. Peace in the midst of our chaos.

It’s not that our life as followers of Christ is different, but it’s that our response to it is different. Everyone faces challenges, pain, and chaos. But not everyone responds the same to it. Faith and hope cause us to see life’s difficulties through a different set of lenses. When faith directs our responses, we begin to walk in freedom. Freedom from the fear of the unknown, others, and failure. Our lives should be desirable, not because it’s perfect, but because we are free from the weight of the world.

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

If we are going to make an impact in the world we have to keep our influence in check. Here are some ways to do that:

1) Watch Your Attitude

Our attitudes are the display cases of what is in our heart. What is in you will eventually come out of you. We need to work on our attitude so that it reflects the character and nature of Christ. When the world sees us, they need to see Jesus. We have to keep ourselves in check. We can’t allow our attitudes to poison our influence. We are Christs’ ambassadors in all that we do, and that should be taken very seriously.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

2) Watch Your Actions

What you do, does more than you know. As followers of Christ, the world defines us by our actions. It is important that we do what we claim to be. To say that God is love, but not display that love to others, makes no sense. To say that God is all we need, but then hurt others to get what we want, makes no sense. To say that forgiveness is amazing, but then hold bitterness towards others, makes no sense. You see, our actions should line up with our beliefs. It’s when what we say we do and what we actually do don’t line up that our influence diminishes.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

If we can keep our influence in check we will begin to see people want to know Christ because of the life we live in Him.