I had been asked to write two blogs a week by a potential publisher. My first reaction was I didn’t think I can do it. I have now posted 140 and have seen Google pick some up and have had readers throughout America. Each week I wonder what should be in next week’s blog. I am amazed how it just happens! If I want to get additional readers I write about prophecy. However, this creates a lot of controversy. In fact, I have been told they would rather I write about something else. I don’t want to get too involved in politics. I know I could write fifty blogs on congress and the administration. Anyway…Thanks for participating and thanks for the comments.

This past Sunday Dr. Charles Stanley brought a message on the importance, as Christians, of having an impact on others. I hope that my blogs, whether you agree or disagree, may have had some impact on what you think about Christ and Scripture. An impact is making a sudden and powerful effect that impresses someone to change their thoughts, actions and direction. Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to make a true impact on your life?

This morning I read an article in the newspaper about how the outside world sees us as Christians. “We may not realize it but some Christians come off as cold, harsh or merely ineffective to outsiders or that specific parts of a worship service can rub at least some newcomers the wrong way.” According to Dr. Stanley there is a tremendous difference between trying to impress someone than making an impact. The difference being, we may be trying to make ourselves look good rather than making a difference in another’s life. How can we impact another with how we live or by what we say for them to accept Christ as their Savior?

I have run into some who have been Christians for years yet, who seem to put the world first in almost everything they do. Have you ever worked for a Christian who took advantage of customers, employees and others? Do you know Christians you could never trust? The impact they usually make is negative. Yet, they seem to believe they are living a holy life. How do others see us?

Romans 8:5 – 6 – “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;”

As Christians there is a continual war that goes on between the desires of the flesh and the guidance of our spirit. How we live is based on which nature is the most persuasive. If our carnal, self-centered nature continues to guide us we may have little impact on those we are close to. We have been given the Holy Spirit to help us have the self-control to overcome those fleshly desires. Too many Christians, it seems, ignores the Spirit that is within us trying to give us proper guidance.

To a great extent the Holy Spirit is there to free us from the desires of our carnal nature. If we don’t have peace, joy and freedom then we are relying on our own strengths and not trusting God to meet our needs. It may take some believers a long time before they learn to develop the trust that is needed to be at peace. Our past baggage, before receiving the Holy Spirit, must be forgotten. We must accept God’s forgiveness or we will not become rid of our past guilt. Our past baggage, if we allow, can defeat us. Ephesians 4:23 & 24 – “to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” These verses tell us to get rid of deceitful desires and develop a new self; otherwise the devil may continually tempt us. We must take a completely different direction in our lives with a new way of thinking and acting. How important is money, prestige, impressing others? Is it more important than living a spiritual life that will impact other? Have we forgotten the Golden Rule to treat others as we would want to be treated? If you were to rate yourself on selfishness or being self-centered how would you grade yourself? Is this an area that needs improving?

Scripture tells us that when we receive the Holy Spirit, the Spirit will take our dead and insensitive spirit and give it life. Our spirit becomes immortal and this is clearly proof that God has accepted us into His family. Once we become more spiritually mature we will not try impressing others with who we are or what we have accumulated. We then can live a life that can impact the lives of others as we have been impacted by those who were followers of Christ. Otherwise, we may be one of those many Christians who turn other people off by not walking the walk.