Real Life Influence
Reading Time: 4 minutes
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. He bowed low and kissed him. They asked about each other’s welfare and then went into Moses’ tent. Moses told his father-in-law everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and Egypt on behalf of Israel. He also told about all the hardships they had experienced along the way and how the Lord had rescued his people from all their troubles. Jethro was delighted when he heard about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel as he rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians.
“Praise the Lord,” Jethro said, “for he has rescued you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Yes, he has rescued Israel from the powerful hand of Egypt! I know now that the Lord is greater than all other gods, because he rescued his people from the oppression of the proud Egyptians.”
Exodus 18:7-11
There’s a quote that basically says a testimony—your personal story—is better than any sermon. Telling your story benefits the people who know you, love you, and can identify with you the most. You may not think it’s much, but your real life has influence.
I often talk to people who cringe at the idea of being ministers or think they aren’t capable of using influence to bring people to Christ’s peace. In this story in Exodus, Moses’ father-in-law comes to visit. They catch up and Moses tells Jethro how he just dealt with plagues and brought the people out of Egypt. Moses tells how he experienced quail, manna from heaven, and even water from a rock. This literally is just the last couple weeks of Moses’ life. Yet, just by catching up on Moses’ story, Jethro is brought to Jesus because of it.
This is really just a family catching up and it ends with the faith of at least one member being increased. You don't have to be a pastor or Instagram influencer to make an impact. We need to realize how impactful our stories are. Moses didn't fluff or exaggerate his testimony. He didn't lie or hold back. He just told of what God had done in the time between his last visit with his father-in-law and Jethro is brought to a better understanding and trust in God.
There’s something else I want to point out in this story. Earlier, the Bible says that Moses actually sent his wife and sons away. Bible scholars assume that this was for their protection as the events of the exodus from Egypt were occurring. Moses’ close family missed so many foundational moments of this story and yet Moses isn't too embarrassed to share. Sometimes, it's hard for me to catch people, even those close to me, up on things they weren’t present for. I sometimes feel like too much has transpired to fully be myself around them. I may not know where to start or I feel like they wouldn’t care.
You may feel you’ve grown apart from some of the friends and family you used to be with. You may have gone to school or started a new career and the people you grew up with may have not been around for a while. You may have grown and new things may excite you, but don't let that stop you from being honest about your story when the opportunity presents itself. Be you. Be real. The people who chose to love you still choose to love you, give them a chance to learn and be inspired by your story. Don’t hold back.
Sit back and think about what God has done this week. Think about what you’ve been afraid of or worried about. Think of what you were stressing about this month. Did you get through? You may have forgotten how much God has done, but talking about it and thinking about it may help you remember how consistent God is. You are a minister and have the ability to help so many people because of your story. It can be an Instagram caption or a brunch catch-up session. Tell others about the things that inspire and excite you and it may inspire someone else. You never know how much influence your life really has.
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