Jesus and George Strait

For the last two summers, I have been working as a Ranger at Gettysburg Farm in Dover, Pennsylvania. I enjoy it there, they are great people here and you can’t beat the weather.

The other day, my coworker, Matt, and I were sitting on the porch of the Ranger station, and he happened to mention George Strait. I’ve always liked George Strait, but I don’t listen to him very often. So that afternoon, while I was doing paperwork in the shack I told Spotify to play me some George Strait.

It has been three days now, and I have been listening to George Strait Radio on Spotify nonstop for my entire eight-hour shift! It’s all Matt’s fault. If he hadn’t mentioned George Strait I probably wouldn’t have even thought about it. The next day Jami came in, heard the music and said, “Looks like I need to go put on some George Strait!”

It’s funny how suggestion works. Matt wasn’t trying to get me to listen to Ol’ George, but there I was listening to “Ocean Front Property” and “Amarillo by Morning” nonetheless. We were having a casual conversation and it sparked something in me.

As Christians, we should be influencing people around us to Jesus. Not by preaching, not by haranguing, and certainly not by judging. We should be living a life that makes them say, “I need to put on some Jesus…”

In Matthew 5:14-17 Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

If we’re living our day to day lives as Christians our conversations, our love, and our care for others will influence those around us. It’s a byproduct of walking with Jesus! Just like Matt casually mentioning George Strait and influencing me, then Jami coming in and being influenced by me, when we live for Jesus in front of others, it becomes a multiplication factor!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to hear “Amarillo by Morning” one more time.