You’ve heard the adage that we become the sum of the 5 people we surround ourselves with the most?
Expanding that thought, we tend to adopt the philosophies, energy, and values of our environment and influencers.
Because we are human.
We like to fit in, no matter how much we claim individuality.
We tend to adopt the group think, no matter how independent we consider ourselves to be.
A wise mentor once told an aspiring actor: “regardless of your original intention, you will eventually become what you surround yourself with.”
Surely our Savior knows this about our natures.
It must be a large reason why He works so hard to claim our attention and provides daily touch points and built-in reminders for those who desire to follow Him.
In the Doctrine and Covenants He is constantly starting His revelations with invitations to “hearken,” “give ear,” and “listen,” followed by His titles or characteristics that demonstrate why we would be wise to do so.
He repeatedly warned the Israelites about conforming to the ideas and practices of the surrounding peoples.
He asks us to be different, to not become too enamored with the things of this world, to beware of deceptive practices and ideas that would delay our progress and block our access to actual truth and light from Him.
We all ‘give ear’ to some voice and influence.
Many are likely harmless and most are simply following the crowd themselves. Some even have worthy motives.
But the truth is, most of them don’t really care about us except as we profit them.
No celebrity or social media influencer really knows us. No marketing professional, author, fashion designer, media producer or talented athlete lives and dies to bring about our best good.
Only Jesus does that.
Only He knows us perfectly, sees our potential, and provides the way for us to reach that potential.
Only He loves us enough to correct us when we veer off course and shows us the way back.
Only He proved our worth and value to Him by giving His all to bring about our redemption.
That’s the kind of person to embrace as our influencer.
One who knows.
And sees.
And loves through it all.
One who is willing to go to any length to bring us home, fight our battles with us, and plead our cause.
One who never gives up on us and can be trusted to always know and act for our best good.
Power that works only to lift us up.
We can choose to surround ourselves with Him as our primary influencer.
He’s offered us all inside access.
As we do, we will find ourselves adopting His values and philosophies and energy.
And in that, finding more abundant life-‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Ephesians 3:20).
