Obedience
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
We've heard it preached so many times. We've heard it spoken from the pulpits so many times.
But why do we still follow the patterns of this world and consider the things of God and Christian ways so strange?
I find it strange that some professing single Christians think it's weird to talk about sexual purity and keeping things sexually pure.
Why are we so far away from the written word of God in our lives, habits, and conversations?
Yes, we are in the world. But we are not of it. You can find this idea in John 17.
How can we be in the world but not of it?
It first takes being obedient to God and His word.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:8-9
"But that's too hard Jeremy... I don't want to be weird."
"And be not conformed to this world..."
The scripture tells us that we are to think on only certain things and that we shouldn't allow certain things in our lives.
Have you only allowed things in your life to get people off your back?
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
So why have you allowed people to see things in your life to only get them off your back?
For most people, Christians will be the only Jesus people see.
Why mess up an opportunity of shining Christ's light into lives by your choice to not stand up for the right thing and Jesus?
It's up to you and me.
I say this sort of thing ever so often but what would happen if we stopped feeding ourselves spiritual junkfood?
I'm talking about images that fill our hearts with lust. I'm talking about music that doesn't fit what Philippians 4:8-9 promotes. What if we were to cut all non-Christian music from our lives? What if we were to keep our Christian brothers and sisters accountable with the question, "Are you keeping your relationship sexually pure?" What if you were to purchase a TVG attachment for your television so that you don't have to fill your lives with fowl language from tv and movies? What if you were to make a conscious effort to stop eating spiritual junkfood?
What if you were to surrender to God fully?
What if?
So many more lives would be effected in your circles of contacts.
What if we were to simply do what Jesus asked of us?
To deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily to follow Him.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
That light in you will have trouble shining if you have been eating all sorts of spiirtual junkfood.
Check yourself.
Obedience...
Jeremy Brown 2007