You Can Make Things Better

Christians need to influence the world for good.

Jeremiah 15:17-19  "I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because Your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins.  18  Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry."

19  This is how the LORD responds: "If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!"

---

Jeremiah was having a party, not the kind of party that everybody else was having, Jeremiah was having a pity party while the rest of the nation was having a good time. Jeremiah was trying to live to please God, he knew how unhappy God was with the rest of the nation of Israel, he knew that nobody else cared about God.

The prophet complains to God again because of the unjust treatment he suffers, he has done no harm to the people, and in fact he has pleaded on their behalf for God’s mercy upon them, yet they still hate him. All alone and discouraged, Jeremiah feels that even God has failed him, he feels like he has lived to please God for no good reason.

You must influence them; do not let them influence you!" -Jeremiah 15:19

Standing up for what's right isn't going to be easy most of the time. God said to Jeremiah that he needed to live a life of faith no matter what the circumstances were and without regard for the way the rest of the world lived, they shouldn't influence him to turn his back on God rather he should be the one that uses his influence to urge the people around him to get right with God.

Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. -Proverbs 14:34

There are advantages as individuals for living to please God, to have his favor and peace and blessings in our lives, there is also a great benefit for the nation that seeks to live for God. Imagine what our nation would be like if a massive number of individuals lived to please God then our nation would enjoy great blessings and peace.

We don't have the ability to force the country to return to Godly values but we do have the responsibility to let our light shine in our area of influence. Just like in Jeremiah's day, the rest of the country may not choose to go with God but that doesn't change our God given duty to exert our influence for good.

Why should a Christian get involved and vote?