God Gave you Influence

[SalinaNavyWife]

^{This little study is based on Esther 4:13-14.  If you have not read and gone through the questions that go along with this in one of the previous posts please read them thanks.}

                           

^{WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?}

¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Christianity is not impractical theory.  The presence and power of God changes the way we behave and the way we influence others.  Though many of us have a hard time believing we have influence, we find it easier to believe when we consider others' influence on us.  Just one snide remark can ruin a whole day.  One affirmation emboldens us to finish a project.  One idea can solve a big mess.

FOR DISCUSSION: What would make someone believe they have no influence?  Believe they have more influence than they do?  To act as though what they do matters to no one but themselves?

Many nonbelievers have been influenced negatively against Christianity because believers behave hypocritically.  They live as though their actions have no effect on others.  But actions always have impact, for good or evil, and we always have a choice in how we express them.  To see how Mordecai did this, reread Esther 4:13-14.  Through an unlikely set of events, a Jewish girl named Esther became queen of Persia.  Her uncle and adoptive dad, Mordecai, helped her time and again.  In this well-known passage, he influenced her to choose to do the right thing for the right reason.

   After Esther became queen, a court official named Haman began to enjoy people bowing to him and paying him homage.  When one man would not bow down, Haman decided to annihilate not only him but his people.  This one man was Esther's relative Mordecai.  He had raised Esther after her parents died.  When Esther learned of the edict allowing for the extermination of all Jews, Esther came face to face with her unique position of influence in the king's life.  But to exert that influence was precarious.  No one-not even the queen-could approach the king in the inner courtyard unless the king summond him or her.  The law prescribed death for anyone who violated this protocol.  Esther would risk her life (4:10-12).  Mordecai named the reality of Esther's responsibility and challenged her to consider whether God had placed her in that position to help.  God used Mordecai to influence Esther.  God used Esther to influence the king.

FOR DISCUSSION: What does it look like to influence well?  To mess someone up with influence?  How do parents have a more complete understanding of influence, both the easy and the complicated?  Who is your "Mordecai"?  To whom can you be a "Mordecai"?

SO, WHAT WILL I DO?

CONNECT: Rather than limit to offical positions, what are several ways to influence at work, community, home, church, with strangers, with friends, in inner circles?  A position of influence comes with responsibility to act.  You've identified your circles of influence; what does God want you to do about each? Ways to influence, through sometimes difficult, are often obvious.  What steps can you take to exert godly influence?