The Right Influence

   It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. 

   It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-5a, The Message Bible

I don't think I've ever read this passage in The Message Bible before... The crystal-clear picture of Truth created by the bottom line turn of phrase is astounding to me! You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live [emphasis mine]. How often are choices made based on the criteria of what we see in the news, what we read, and what the latest influencer has to say? 

Hopefully, that's in the past. God has made us new creations in Christ. Our choices in life should be made in faith - the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1), what we read - namely the Word of God (any and every verse), and what the Greatest Influencer - the Holy Spirit - has to say. It is written in John 16:13 NKJV, However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 

Which criteria will you use for your choices?

Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the gift of salvation and for Your grace by which we are saved. Thank You for Your mercies which are new every morning and Your great faithfulness toward us. Holy Spirit, guide us into ALL Truth. Father, let us be influenced only by what we hear and learn from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen