Integrity and Influence

I have a high school son who wrestles and plays football. We were in the car, and he was really excited telling me all about this Bible plan on the YouVersion Bible app written by KB, his favorite Christian rapper. As my excitement matched his, I couldn’t help but ask, “Cale, what made you pursue God and his Word on your own?” 

“Mom, a lot of my teammates have been asking me questions about my faith so I thought I should be who they think that I am.” 

When people see something different in us and begin to ask questions…that is influence.

When we want to be the same person in private as we are in public…that is integrity.

It takes integrity as an individual to have a Christ-like influence in the world. 

Jesus understood this as the “pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” In Matthew 14, Jesus sent his disciples in a boat ahead of him and when He decides to join them, He walks on water to get to them. JESUS WALKS ON WATER. Not only that, but Peter walks on water too. It was something nobody has done before or since. In verse 32, Jesus and Peter got back into the boat and the storm stopped, “Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Jesus’ moment of influence didn’t start when he walked on water in front of the Disciples, it started in verse 23 when he was by himself, “After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountainside by himself to pray.” -Matthew 14:23

He teaches us that what we do when nobody is watching (integrity) prepares us for when everyone is (influence). 

As followers of Christ may we follow his example to seek God in private so we might have influence in public.