John the Baptist was an influential leader with a large following. He was baptizing those who believed that the Messiah was coming. When the Pharisees saw this, they were angry with him and asked, “Who are you, John? Are you the one to come? Are you Elijah? Are you Isaiah?” And this is what John the Baptist would repeatedly say:

Do you get a sense of John the Baptist’s humility? Even though large crowds followed him, he wanted all the attention on the Son of God. Here we see a brief window into the heart of a truly mature, godly person—someone whose emphasis and success in life are on Jesus, not themselves. John says it this way in John 3:30, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”

I believe with all my heart that God is calling you to influence someone for Jesus. But you might be thinking, “I’ve never preached a sermon. I’ve never led a small group. I’m uncomfortable talking about my faith. I don’t have a plan, and I feel overwhelmed.” Anyone can be an influence for Christ by following three steps, just as John the Baptist did.

First, pray. Who is the person you need to influence for Christ? Maybe it’s a classmate, family member, neighbor, or friend. Pray for them specifically by name. Second, show that you care about them. Is there a need you can meet in their life? Could you help with homework, give them a ride, assist with a project, or run an errand for them? Just find a way to show you care and see how God opens a door.

Finally, just speak the name of Jesus. Put the attention on Him! If you don’t know what else to do, share what Jesus has done in your life. Influencers are everywhere in media, sports, and on social media. Who are the influencers for Jesus? I believe that’s God’s heart for all of us, so let’s pray this today: