We influence others to be on mission with our lives. The people we influence most will be our family, friends, church, co-workers, acquaintances and others we meet and touch throughout the day. They will be influenced by each of us.
With so many people watching, we need to ask ourselves: Is my life on mission with God attractive to others? Do others instinctively desire what they see in me? Is my on mission life being lived with fullness of joy?
May our lives be like Jesus, who said to His disciples, these things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11). Is your life and mine full of joy as we live on mission? Do we bring our fullness of joy to others, and does our life fill their lives with joy as they are attracted to be on mission with their Lord?
Recently, a fine couple wanted to speak with me after they heard me sharing (with great joy). He was a former chief of police, and she was a nurse. By the end of our conversation they, in tears, sensed God was clearly calling them to be church planters, counseling others and leading others to fullness in Christ.
During my years of ministry I would estimate, conservatively, that 2000+ individuals have responded to Gods call on their lives to be on mission with Him. Because of this unusual hand of God on my life, and the incredible joy that goes with it in my own experience with so many, I share with you some modest counsel as you adapt your life to influence others to be on mission with God.
A special scripture immediately comes to mind. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said to His disciples, The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest First, if you ever pray this way:
1. Be alert to Gods activity answering your prayer.
2. Be ready to join Him in this activity. This will mean time:
Talking with those responding
Helping them through this moment with God in their lives
3. Be ready for follow through and follow up in each life God is calling.
4. Seek to equip others, such as your Sunday school class, your friends, the other leaders in your church, even other believers at work and especially the parents of those God is obviously calling to Himself.
I had to take much time with not only those responding to Gods activity in their lives but with significant others around their lives. Parents often are the greatest hindrance (and burden) when a person responds to Gods call in his or her life.
Over the life of my ministry, I am always amazed by those who want to be on mission with God in their lifechildren, college students, youth, businessmen and women, leaders in the church such as deacons and even staff, judges, legislators, doctors, teachers, truck drivers, nursesany of Gods children who experience a life of joy with their Lord may be called and
influenced toward being a more committed and involved disciple of Jesus on mission with Him. This on mission lifestyle is truly contagious!
Knowing that my life influences others, Ive discovered several principles I incorporate to be effective in multiplying my on mission friends:
Model an on mission lifestyle, attractively, especially with great joy.
Incarnate this message to others.
Verbalize the full measure of what it means to be invited by God to join Him in an on mission life.
Pay the price to be involved with God in the lives of those He calls.
Do all of this intentionally! Casual or careless living will never attract others.
If you are a pastor, always include this call in your invitation and in your message (even if you are speaking in a prison or a nursing home, for many are responding to be on mission with God in the places we would today least expect God to work in this way).
Focus on this in home Bible groups, youth groups and other Bible study opportunities.
God calls us to love him and to invest our lives in the lives of others. What a calling! And, what an exciting privilege God has given us, not only to be on mission with Him, but to have a definite influence on others to do this also.
The author of Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby is president of Henry Blackaby Ministries. Visit www.henryblackaby.com for more information. Bible references are from The New King James Version.