Devotional: "Influence: Discover Why Nobody's Listening" - Pastor Ron Kelly

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"Influence: Discover Why Nobody's Listening" - Pastor Ron Kelly

5-Day Devotional Guide: The Making of a Godly Influence

This guide will walk you through the principles of building a credible, Christ-centered influence that speaks louder than words, transforming your home, church, and community.

Day 1: The Foundation – Integrity When No One is Listening

Key Scripture: Acts 27:9-11 - "Paul began to admonish them, and said to them, 'Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss...' But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul."

Reflection: Paul’s journey to influence began when he had none. He was a prisoner, his advice was ignored, and he was likely seen as a nobody. Yet, he spoke the truth with conviction, even when it was unpopular. Godly influence is not built on a platform of popularity but on a foundation of unwavering integrity. It starts in the "private places"—at home, in your personal choices—where no one sees but God. This is the laboratory where your character is proven. If you are not a person of principle in the small things, you will not suddenly become one in the big things.

Consider:

  • Is there an area in your private life (thoughts, habits, family interactions) where you are compromising your integrity?

  • When was the last time you stood for what was right, even when you knew you would be ignored or criticized?

  • The preacher said, "Your religion either works at home or it doesn't work." How does your faith manifest in your attitude and actions toward your family today?

Prayer: Lord, give me the courage of Paul to speak and live the truth, even when no one is listening. Forgive me for the times I have valued popularity over principle. Build in me a foundation of rock-solid integrity that starts in my own home. Amen.

Day 2: The Catalyst – Love in Action

Key Scripture: Acts 27:21-24 - "Paul stood up in their midst and said... 'I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you... For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me...'"

Reflection: After being proven right, Paul didn't say, "I told you so." Instead, his first words were, "Keep your courage." His focus immediately shifted from his own vindication to their encouragement. This is the heart of a servant leader. His influence grew because his love was genuine. He had been praying for his captors and shipmates. The "unstudied, unconscious influence" the preacher described is this natural overflow of a heart filled with God's love. It’s an atmosphere of grace and courage you carry that impacts people before you even speak.

Consider:

  • When you are proven right in a conflict, what is your first impulse: to vindicate yourself or to encourage the other person?

  • How can you cultivate a heart that genuinely prays for and seeks the good of even those who mistreat or ignore you?

  • What "atmosphere" do you carry into a room? Is it one of criticism and stress, or one of peace and encouragement?

Prayer: Father, transform my heart. When I am wronged or ignored, help me to respond not with pride, but with the compassionate, encouraging heart of Christ. Make me a source of your courage and peace for everyone around me. Amen.

Day 3: The Test – Consistency Under Pressure

Key Scripture: Acts 27:30-32, 42-44 - "As the sailors were trying to escape... Paul said to the centurion... 'Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.'... The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners, but the centurion... kept them from their intention."

Reflection: In the storm's climax, Paul's credibility faced its ultimate test. He gave a direct, life-or-death command, and the centurion obeyed. Why? Because Paul's consistent character under extreme pressure had earned that trust. Later, the centurion risked his own life to save Paul. Influence is forged in the fires of adversity. It’s when you maintain your principles, your peace, and your love for others while under colossal stress that people see the reality of your faith. Your response to pressure either confirms or shatters your credibility.

Consider:

  • How do you typically react under stress? Do you become self-focused, or do you, like Paul, look for ways to serve and save others?

  • Think of a recent stressful situation. Did your response draw people toward Christ or push them away?

  • Who in your life has earned your trust through their consistent character in a crisis? What can you learn from them?

Prayer: Jesus, my anchor in the storm, I confess that pressure often reveals my selfishness and fear. Forgive me. In moments of stress, help me to lean on you so deeply that my response points others to your saving power and steadfast love. Amen.

Day 4: The Humility – The Power of "I'm Sorry"

Key Scripture: Proverbs 28:13 - "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Reflection: The preacher shared a powerful personal story of how a single, sincere apology to his entire church did more for his credibility than any sermon. A willingness to admit fault is a superpower in the kingdom of God. It dismantles pride, builds bridges of trust, and proves that your identity is in Christ, not in being right. The "law of the leaky vessel" reminds us we are all imperfect. Trying to hide our flaws drains our self-respect and influence. But confessing them allows God’s grace to fill us and flow through us to others.

Consider:

  • Is there a relationship in your life—at home, church, or work—that is strained because you have been unwilling to admit a mistake?

  • Why is it so difficult for us to say "I was wrong" or "I'm sorry"?

  • How does embracing your own humanity and need for grace make you more compassionate toward the failures of others?

Prayer: Lord, give me the humility of Christ. Strip away my pride and my desperate need to be right. Give me the courage to confess my faults freely, trusting that your mercy and grace are the true source of my strength and influence. Amen.

Day 5: The Result – Becoming a "Tree of Life"

Key Scripture: Proverbs 15:4 - "A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit."

Reflection: The ultimate goal of a godly life is to have a mouth that is a "tree of life." Like the elderly Bula, whose lifelong love gave her the credibility to speak a hard truth into a young man's life, our influence should refresh and nourish souls. This doesn't happen by focusing on influence itself, but by focusing on Christ. As you spend time in His Word (like the Conflict of the Ages series and Steps to Christ), in prayer, and in humble service, His character becomes your own. Your unconscious influence will be one of life, making it hard for people not to listen to you because they have already been blessed by you.

Consider:

  • When people interact with you, do they leave feeling judged and drained, or encouraged and refreshed?

  • What is one practical way you can be a "tree of life" to your spouse, a child, a coworker, or a church member this week?

  • The preacher urged, "Silence all the other voices." What is one step you can take this week to better prioritize time in God's Word and Spirit-filled books?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the source of all life. I long to be a tree of life in my family and community. Saturate my heart with your love through your Word and your Spirit. May my words and my very presence bring healing, encouragement, and life to everyone I meet, for the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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