Everything we think, say, and do will impact others for Jesus or distract them from His truth. Our lives will be all about Jesus or about nothing at all. If we want to impact others for Jesus, we must live like Jesus. We won’t impact them in our power, because we have no answers on our own.
It is only the blood of Jesus that can cleanse people of their sins. It is only the love of Jesus that can redeem them from their brokenness. So, if we aren’t showing them the love of Jesus and telling them of His sacrifice on their behalf, then we are only distracting them from the truth with whatever else we say or do.
Too many Christians throw around the word “surrender” without understanding what the word means. If you are a Christian, one who believes Jesus is who He says He is, and you have committed your life to His Lordship, then surrender is not optional. Jesus told us the one who would follow Him must sacrifice everything for Him (Matthew 16:24). Jesus giving up His life on a cross for us is the perfect model of surrender. Until surrender becomes part of who we are, our impact will be limited. Without surrender, people will still see us instead of Jesus. We can’t save them. Only He can.
Focusing our every thought, word, and action on Jesus is hard. But where did you ever get the idea that walking the narrow path would be easy (Matthew 7:14)? It wasn’t easy for Jesus. It wasn’t easy for His disciples. And it hasn’t been easy for the millions of martyrs throughout the centuries. Following Jesus is extremely difficult for over half of the world’s population. No, focusing on and surrendering to Jesus isn’t easy. But if we want to make an impact for His Kingdom, it is necessary. There is an easier path, of course, but it doesn’t lead to Jesus. You will have to decide for yourself whether Jesus is worth the struggle.
Unless we surrender everything to Jesus, our lives will continue to be a distraction to His love, mercy, and grace. We’ll carry on as if this life is all that matters and in doing so convince others we’re right. But this life is but a blink in time and will be over before we know it (James 4:14). Woe to us if we cause others to miss Jesus because we were too busy pursuing our plans rather than telling others about Him.
The whole point of discipleship is not for own edification. The point is to look so much like Jesus that it will draw others to Him. When people look at our lives, they should see nothing that will distract them from the truth of Christ. We should look so much like Jesus that our lives will impact them so profoundly that they cannot ignore it. Do you want to make an impact or be a distraction? Impact begins with surrendering everything in our lives to Jesus. We are His. He is ours. Nothing else matters. Your friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances are passing into eternity without Jesus. Hell awaits them. Don’t let that happen. Not on our watch. Surrender. Tell. Make an impact for Jesus.