There are good and bad consequences for each action we take—or don’t take as the case may be. Each decision you make has an effect, but not just in that moment.
If you teach someone to be kind to everyone, he will make many friends and maybe life-long friends who will be in his wedding one day and possibly future honorary aunts and uncles to his children.
This ripple effect, or the butterfly effect, has real connotations for many aspects of your life. We were all called to the Great Commission in Matthew 28.
You are to live your life in such a way that the love of Jesus radiates through you into every aspect of your life. When you live by the example of Christ, this is a natural effect.
Christ had His twelve disciples that He handpicked to be by His side. This was His main focus. His relationship with these disciples give us a clear example of what it means to make disciples in our own lives.
Sure He performed miracles and did many signs and wonders, but that wasn’t His ultimate focus. The disciples He had around Him witnessed first-hand what was most important.
To influence others in the name of Christ, you first have to conduct your life in a way that honors God. This cause has an effect on your mood, your relationships, and what you say and do.
Jesus let His life and other teachable moments to be what started the ripple effect that is still going today. Sadly, many people are accepting Christ and not understanding or underestimating their role in the Great Commission.
They may think it is just for the missionaries to speak the Good News to others or they may be too afraid to talk to someone about how God changed their lives for fear of rejection. The Bible does say in Matthew 10:33 though that if you deny Christ to others, He will deny you in front of His Father.
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there for the sake of Christ. He is always with you. He will always make a way for you and protect you as you go. Teach others about Jesus and our Heavenly Father the same way Jesus taught His disciples.
Do life with them and let your life speak to them. Jesus didn’t teach them in a classroom, He shared His life and experiences. Everything you do and everywhere you go is an opportunity to make disciples and change the course of the lives of others.
How can you live more intentionally for Christ so your life will set forth a butterfly effect through others?
