Small Influences, Lasting Impact

Dwight L. Moody once said, “The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation” (Moody, 1896/2007). That statement reminds us that spiritual growth is not just about what we know, but about how we let it shape us. Every day, our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs are formed by the influences we choose to accept. What we allow into our minds and hearts will eventually show up in how we live and speak.

 

Jesus makes a statement in Matthew 15:11, “It is not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” A few verses earlier (Matthew 15:10–13, NLT), Jesus calls the crowd to listen and understand, explaining that what truly corrupts a person comes from the heart. He also warns that every plant not planted by His Father will be uprooted. In other words, whatever does not originate from God will ultimately be exposed and removed. False belief, selfish motive, and hidden pride are all examples of things that can subtly corrupt the hearts of even the once strongest believers.

 

This truth challenges the way we naturally think. We tend to focus on the things in front of us, such as what we own, how we appear, or what others are doing around us. But Jesus redirects our attention inward, while also warning us to be careful about the influences we allow into our lives. In Matthew 16, Jesus cautions His disciples about the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Sadducees—religious leaders who often appeared righteous on the outside but were known for hypocrisy, pride, and teaching that distorted God’s truth. Leaven is what makes bread rise, even though you usually cannot see it working. A small amount spreads throughout the dough, completely changing it. In the same way, unseen influences can quietly shape everything in our lives, even if we don’t immediately notice them.

 

In this passage, Jesus was not actually talking about bread but rather the quiet spread of negative thinking, hypocrisy, and spiritual blindness—all  of which are real threats to our faith. This is how influence often works in our lives. It is rarely loud or obvious at first. It can come through conversations, cultural acceptance, trusted voices, or repeated ideas that seem harmless. This connects directly to Jesus’ teaching about the heart. What takes root inside us does not stay hidden; it eventually reveals itself through our words. If we allow unhealthy or ungodly influences to settle within us, they will shape our responses, attitudes, and perspectives. In time, what started as a small “leaven” becomes something much larger, impacting every part of our lives.

 

When Jesus speaks about plants being uprooted in Matthew 15, He is giving both a warning and a promise. The warning is that anything not planted by God will not last. No matter how normal or accepted it may seem, it will ultimately be removed. The promise is that God is actively working to purify what is within us, removing false influences and cultivating truth. However, we must be willing to recognize what does not belong and have the courage to take action to remove it.

 

Jesus’ message is one of awareness—discernment, not fear, intentionality, not isolation. We are to be mindful of what we are allowing to shape us, knowing that even small influences can have a lasting impact. This kind of reflection requires honesty. It means asking difficult questions about the things we listen to, the ideas we accept, and the attitudes we tolerate. But it also opens the door for real transformation, as we allow God to replace unhealthy influences with truth that gives life and a hope for the future.