One of my favorite Peanuts cartoons showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown. She said, “Guess what, Chuck. The first day of school and I got sent to the principal’s office. It was your fault, Chuck.” He said, “My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?” She said, “You’re my friend, aren’t you, Chuck? You should have been a better influence on me.”

Should we not evaluate the type of influence we are having on one another? Are we influencing our peers to greater spirituality? Or, are we influencing enough for good?

At the battle of Bull Run, the headlong retreat of an army was stopped when an officer shouted to the panic-stricken troops, “There stands Jackson like a stone wall!” Stonewall Jackson’s influence strengthened the men, and gave them courage to fight. Today, in the Lord’s church, when we stand like a stone wall in spirit and truth, we influence others in the church to fight the good fight of faith with courage and determination.

I watched him in the way of life

With heart and head held high;

It always seemed my load grew light

Whenever he passed by.

I patterned everything I did

By what I saw him do —

That he loved God I could not doubt

Because his life was true.

I often wished that more like his

My way of life might be —

Imagine my surprise to find

That he’d been watching me! [poem from an unknown author]

Remember, “Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men” (2 Cor. 3:2).

How is your influence?

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!

Tom Moore
http://www.fromthepreacherspc.org
http://www.harrisandmoore.org
http://www.parkheightscoc.com