Spheres of Influence
Well, they said about Jesus . . . He dines with publicans and sinners.... Paul said, “I will become all things to all men in order that I might win some for Christ now.” ... I don’t have Paul’s calling.... That’s not my calling, to go out and become all things to all men to win them for Christ.... But sometimes I can be a signpost... sometimes I can sow seed. . . . And posthole diggers and seed sowers are pretty important in the building of the Kingdom. —Johnny Cash
Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:16 CEV
Our daily encounters may seem random from our perspective, the result of pure chance. From God’s perspective, though, they’re as tightly choreographed as a Broadway number. Each of us, at any given moment, has a sphere of influence—an area in which we can make our presence known. Sometimes our sphere is small and includes very few people; sometimes it’s much larger and includes a crowd.
We enter each other’s spheres in a given place, at a given time, for a reason. God gives us a chance, however brief, to shine His light in our own unique way.
Our spheres of influence change constantly, from sitting in the stands of a kid’s ballgame to standing in line at the grocery to running through a neighborhood to meeting new clients at work.
Every time our sphere of influence changes, new opportunities present themselves. Opportunities to make Jesus known. Opportunities to show what it means to follow Him. Some people seize on these opportunities and verbally present the gospel as often as they can. The apostle Paul was big on this approach. Yet those of us who prefer a less bold and less direct strategy can still make an impact in our spheres of influence.
The key is to approach everything we do with integrity, kindness, and loving concern for others. When we make those priorities the core of who we are and how we approach daily life, they can’t help but come out of us in an organic way, one that registers with other people.
Even the briefest interactions can be infused with this spirit. And, as Johnny Cash explained, they can serve as signposts that point the way to the One who makes our spirit possible. They can serve as seeds that we sow in people’s lives, which can take root and begin to grow an interest in God.
Even the smallest gesture can sow seeds and perhaps eventually make a big impression. A show of sportsmanship during a game. An offer to help carry groceries. A listening ear for someone who needs one. Paying for the order of the next person in the drive-through lane. Buying an extra fast-food meal for a homeless person. As our spheres of influence change, so do our opportunities.
And if we keep our light shining, if we look for ways to serve as signposts and seed sowers, we may find that God expands our spheres of influence and gives us even more opportunities to serve Him and make a difference.
Father, Thank You for the opportunities You give me every day to make a difference in other people’s lives. Help me recognize that every time my sphere of influence changes, I have a new opportunity to point the way to You or sow seeds that may take root in someone’s life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is an excerpt from Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth and Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash – a new devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.
