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Oct 13, 2024 06:00am

The Original Influencer

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“Follow me!”

If you’re on Social Media, no doubt you’ve heard this phrase often. You see, we live in a world where savvy people stand ready to arm us with knowledge about pretty much anything and everything. Want to find all the deals on Amazon? Want to learn how to apply makeup? Or, maybe you want to learn how to cook healthier meals? With a click of a “follow” button, you can now choose the right person to help give you insight into whatever area you desire.

This isn’t a bad thing. My cooking game has gotten a boost from such influencers. My Amazon cart sees daily action from all the things my influencers are telling me I have to have (my husband would agree). But, here’s what I have learned over the years from following people: you have to trust the source of knowledge you are seeking. There have been a few times I have followed people who seemed to be experts in the area I needed only to realize their values were not my values. It’s at that point I had to make a decision: to continue following or unfollow.

Jim Rohn once said that we are a combination of the five people we spend time with. Now, think about that for a minute. These five people shape who you are: your thoughts, your words, and your actions. And in today’s world, you don’t even have to personally know your five people–you just have to spend time listening to them to be influenced. That puts a whole new spin on influencers, doesn’t it?

The power of influence isn’t a new thing. In fact, I would say the originator of influence lived two thousand years ago in the form of Jesus Christ. In His three years of ministry, Jesus used the phrase “Follow me” twenty-one times. Most of those times, He called people to leave their predictable lives for an unpredictable life with Him. And you know what? Each one who chose to follow Him experienced a profound change–a transformation. Jesus influenced their thoughts, words, and actions in such a way that they bloomed and blossomed in ways they never could have imagined.

They walked in the light of Jesus’ love and were forever changed.

Simon was one such guy. He had known about Jesus through John the Baptist’s ministry. His brother Andrew, eager for Simon to see Jesus, even arranged a meeting for the two of them. Something special happened when Simon met Jesus. Jesus looked straight at him and said something that forever imprinted Simon’s life: “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas. (“Cephas” means “Peter.”)” (John 1:42). Can you imagine how slack-jawed Simon, or Peter, was at that moment? Upon meeting this Messiah, he was given a new identity. Later, after an unsuccessful night of fishing, Peter found himself face-to-face with Jesus again. Once more, Jesus said something powerful and life-changing to this young man: “Follow me.” And Peter did, immediately.

By following Jesus, Peter’s transformation began. Like a caterpillar that grows into a butterfly, Peter went from a salty fisherman who was impulsive and arrogant to a salty disciple who walked on water, and then to a repentant, broken man who denied his Savior. But, failure was not the end of Peter’s story. Jesus sought out His broken disciple, forgave him, and restored him. Peter even got a new job assignment: to feed Jesus’ sheep. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, some of His last words to Peter echoed His first: “Follow me.” It was as if Jesus was telling Peter to keep trusting Him, to keep walking in His light, to keep following Him . . . no matter what. Friends, not only did Peter follow Jesus–but he grew into a powerful preacher who turned thousands of hearts to a man worth following.

You see, Peter isn’t too different from us. He faltered in his faith. He failed testing moments. And, he fell into sin. But, each time he took a fall in life, he did something we can struggle to do: he decided to turn to Jesus and keep following Him.

He chose to spend time with Jesus, getting to know Him.

He chose to talk with Jesus, asking questions and seeking answers.

He chose to listen to Jesus’ teaching, trying to live it out.

And yes, he even chose to be disciplined by Jesus, growing from those moments.

In essence, he chose to be influenced by Jesus.

And in Peter’s life, Jesus did the impossible.

You don’t have to be perfect–Peter certainly wasn’t. You just have to choose to follow Jesus faithfully, amid the falterings, the fears, and the failures.

You were meant for so much more, friend. Following Jesus will help you discover it.