Do you ever wonder what type of influence you have on the
people around you? Would you consider
yourself to be someone who has a godly influence on your family, friends, and
co-workers? When we study the life of
Lot, we see a man who did not have a godly influence on those around him. 2 Peter
2:7 reveals that Lot was a righteous man, but when we study his life we see
that his testimony in the city of Sodom meant nothing to the people. Prayerfully ask God to reveal to you if you
have a godly testimony to those in your realm of influence.
In Genesis 13:10-11,
we notice Lot making a decision that had detrimental effects toward his
family. He decided to move his family
near Sodom, a city that was known for its wickedness - its sin. Lot
looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well
watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and
Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the
whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company. Life presents us with a series of
choices. Our choices affect many and can
reach into the future. Prayerfully seek
God’s direction when making choices. Even
though the choices look promising in the moment, the future consequence can be
devastating.
Lot had an opportunity to be a godly voice in this wicked
city. In Genesis 19:1, we see Lot
sitting in the gateway of the city. The two angels arrived at Sodom in the
evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city – Genesis 19:1. The ones who sat in the gateway of the
cities were judges. Lot not only chose
to move to Sodom, but once there he got into politics. He had an opportunity to be a godly influence
but Scripture reveals when the time of destruction and judgment had come upon
Sodom, those near and dear to him did not take him seriously. Genesis
19:14 – So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry
his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get
out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was
joking. Lot lived so long among the
wicked and sinful in Sodom and was so content among the ungodly people; he was
no longer a believable witness for God. Lot
had allowed his environment to shape him instead of shaping his environment. Are you shaping and influencing your
environment in a godly way or is your environment shaping you?
Lot blended in and became one of the crowd and when he
finally made a stand, nobody listened. For
us to make a difference and a godly influence in our sphere of influence, we
have to choose to be different in our faith and our conduct. We will never be able to conform to the
world’s standards and make a godly influence.
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Lot chose to conform to his
environment. Let’s prayerfully seek our
LORD and ask Him to empower us and guide us to be a godly, spiritual influence
in our environment.
We live in a world filled with sin. We must guard ourselves that we do not become
accepting of the sin that is in our world.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it – Proverbs 4:23.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to be a
godly influence in our sphere of influence.
Help us to recognize sin and understand we cannot flirt with sin. Father, we recognize that You have called us
to be a godly light in this lost and dying world. Provide us with the power and strength to
stand strong. In Jesus Name I
Pray…..Amen.
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