Lenten Devotional | March 1, 2012 | Your Influence of Faith or Faithlessness

Key Bible Verse: And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1) 

Dig Deeper: Philippians 4:4-9

Whether we realize it or not, we are being watched and our behavior is being followed. People are looking to us as examples of what the Christian life is all about, so we should be maturing and making ourselves better to help them grow. More than likely, new believers will incorporate into their lives what they see in ours, so let's work to make ours ones that look like Christ.

You see that with the veterans on football teams and pitching staffs. A coach with veteran players can take a step back because those seasoned players will model the behavior he wants in the younger players. During his last years as an active player, Andy Pettitte served as a positive influence with the younger New York Yankee pitchers. He had seen so many situations, survived the New York media for so long, and had dealt with pressure time and again that he was able to model, directly and indirectly, big-league skills and Christlike habits for others on the staff.

You should strive to do the same, whether in the church body as a whole, in a smaller accountability group or Bible study, or in your everyday life. People are looking for an example of how to be like Jesus.

—Tony Dungy in The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge

My Response: What are some lessons I have learned in my walk with Christ that I should pass on to others?

Thought to Apply: Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or evil without inciting more of the same in others.—Francois De La Rochefoucald (French writer)d or evil without inciting more of the same in others.—Francois De La Rochefoucald (French writer)