INFLUENCE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 6, 1869

INFLUENCE.

We should be startled if we could realize the extent of our influence, and could be aware of the many ways in which we exert it for evil. When we give account of ourselves at the last day we shall be astonished to see how much we have done for good or evil simply by our influence over others. Could we see things now as we shall see them then, there would never be a moment of our lives in which we should be off our guard. We should be always vigilant, always thoughtful, always circumspect; always heavenly-minded. If we could not fill up our lives with deeds of active obedience, we should do something else, which by the grace of God is always in our power. We should show that we could patiently and cheerfully suffer the will of God. How mighty is the example of patient suffering. How pernicious the influence of a murmuring, unreconciled spirit. When others are ready to faint beneath their burdens, how potent may one word for good or evil be from us. Nay, even the very spirit and temper of our minds, though we speak not one word, may be, sometimes turn the scale and decide the destiny of some around us. Sometimes the wife by her silent influence so helps or hinders her husband in the work of God, as to render him mighty for the work, or else weak and utterly inefficient. None are so lowly as to have no influence upon the destiny of others. What account shall we give for our influence?