Person of Influence?

By any account, Joseph was one of the little people. He was a Jew, the smallest and most insignificant of countries. He was a carpenter, a craftsman, whose day was probably filled with repairing common household items and building common farm implements. In Jewish economy, he was strictly blue collar.

And yet, in God’s economy, he was the elite, that man with a heart that sought to be God’s man. He was that man of integrity and kindness who would not marry a woman who was unfaithful to him, but still couldn’t bring himself to publically disgrace her. When God stepped in and told him to go ahead and marry Mary, that the baby was of the Holy Spirit, he didn’t question his own sanity but obeyed. He didn’t ask, or at least it isn’t recorded that he asked, what this all would mean for him, personally. He had to know that people would talk. His reputation would be dragged through the mud, just like Mary’s would. People would assume they had sinned.

Joseph was that insignificant man of great significance. He would raise God’s Son, teaching him a trade, and what it means to be a man, and a man of God. Joseph is, like many of our dad’s, that largely unsung hero who is rarely mentioned but had great influence.

God seems to have a special place in his plans for insignificant people. Little people, like shepherds and village girls and carpenters. Perhaps they are more willing to let God have the glory, aware of their own insignificance. God can do big things with little people. The birth of Jesus shows in so many ways that little people are precious and noticed by God.

Who are the influential people in your life? Are they giant slayers or kings? More likely they are laundry slayers or servants. Mothers and fathers and teachers and bus drivers and Sunday school teachers and youth group leaders and salesmen and neighbors, people who looked beyond themselves and lived in obedience to God.

You don't have to be a 'person of influence' to be influential. In fact, the most influential souls in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me. ~ Scott Adams

Have you thanked those little people of influence in your life recently? As you go through your day, who are you influencing? It may be by the kindness you show to the new kid at work, or the smile you give the homeless lady you pass on the street at lunchtime. Maybe it’s the attention you show to the middle child at home or the too-loud attention-seeking child in your class. Maybe it’s the lady who watches you when you don’t even know it. Maybe it’s the harried sales clerk or the driver of the car stuck in traffic next to yours.

In God’s economy, no one is insignificant.

Joseph reminds us of that. Mary. The shepherds. God will use who He wills, and who is willing.

Are you willing? How will God use you today?