InfluenceSample

What we do speaks louder than what we say. Oftentimes, we gain influence with those around us when we model doing the right thing—even when it’s really challenging. Forgiving others doesn’t always come easy. It requires being humble. It requires admitting that you were wrong. It requires deciding to turn away from harmful actions. When we ask for forgiveness and when we forgive others, we practice what it’s like to be like Jesus. When people see us treat each other the way Jesus treated us, they see there’s something different about people who follow Jesus. They get curious. When they discover that our strength to do the hard work of forgiveness comes from Jesus, we’ve used our influence to point others back to the God we trust in. Forgiveness is never about who’s watching, but if someone happens to see our lives, how might we be an example of Jesus’ love and forgiveness to them?