John 16: 1-4- Be an Influence

Read John 16: 1- 4-

Jesus was speaking to the disciples, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. (2) For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.”

All the people involved in these conversations were Jews. Jesus knew what the next few days in their lives would be and He wanted the disciples to be prepared and know that God was still in control of the events that would happen. The Jewish religious leaders were against the person of Jesus because so many people were following Him and talking about Him in a spiritual sense. The Jewish leadership became afraid of Him, or they were intent on not allowing someone not in the circle of spiritual leadership to be able to steal their influence with the people.

Jesus came to earth to influence people. He came to first atone for our sins. He then came to influence. That should be our goal too. We should be working to influence other people in the ways and principles of God. That is getting harder to do because there are times when that means saying no to certain beliefs and lifestyles. That is our challenge. No differently than the disciples, we will see resistance and ridicule, but it is our challenge to live Godly principles 24/7 and be the influence God wants us to be today. 

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