Jesus is right!
I shouldn’t be:
surprised by
that statement.
However, the
more I learn
about Him the
more I realize
just how right
He is─about
everything.
Take, for
instance the
negative
influence
non-believers
can have on the
life of a
believer.
Have you ever
noticed how
quickly you
pick-up on a
sinful habit or
how quickly you
compromise your
beliefs when you
regularly
associate with
people who are
not true
Christians?
When
everyone around
you uses curse
words
continually,
those same words
begin to slowly
creep into your
own vocabulary.
If you hang out
with someone who
drinks
excessively,
chances are very
good that your
consumption of
alcohol will
begin to
increase also.
Their immoral
viewpoints and
way of thinking,
may, over time,
become your
viewpoints and
way of thinking.
“Do not be bound
together with
unbelievers; for
what partnership
have
righteousness
and lawlessness,
or what
fellowship has
light with
darkness?
Or what harmony
has Christ with
Belial, or what
has a believer
in common with
an unbeliever?
Or what
agreement has
the temple of
God with idols?
For we are the
temple of the
Living God; just
as God said, ‘I
will dwell in
them and walk
among them; and
I will be their
God, and they
shall be My
people.
Therefore, come
out of their
midst and be
separate,’ says
the Lord.
‘And do
not touch what
is unclean; and
I will welcome
you.
And I
will be a Father
to you, and you
shall be sons
and daughters to
Me,’ says the
Lord Almighty”
(2 Corinthians
6:14-18).
“The righteous
should choose
his friends
carefully, for
the way of the
wicked leads
them astray”
(Proverbs
12:26).
We must be very
careful with
whom we
associate.
Even the
strongest of
Christians can
waiver in their
faith and
suddenly find
them selves
sliding down
that slippery
slope to
compromise and
immorality. I am
not saying you
could lose your
salvation
because you are
friends with
unbelievers.
However we, as
Christians,
struggle daily
against the
wiles of the
devil.
Why would
we want to
compound that
struggle by
associating with
those whose god
is this world,
whose god is the
devil?
“Our enemy the
devil prowls
around like a
roaring lion
looking for
someone to
devour” (1 Peter
5:8).
God has called
on us to be the
conscience of
the nation by
godly living and
setting the
example of how
we should act.
Godly living is
our calling
as Christians.
We should
hate evil in
EVERY form just
as God hates
evil. A godly
man HATES evil
and loves
holiness.
“Finally,
brethren,
whatever is
true, whatever
is honorable,
whatever is
right, whatever
is pure,
whatever is
lovely, whatever
is of good
repute, if there
is any
excellence and
if anything
worthy of
praise, dwell on
these things.
The
things you have
learned and
received and
heard and seen
in me practice
these things,
and the God of
peace will be
with you”
(Philippians
4:8-9).
So now what do
we do?
We could sell
everything we
own and move to
a monastery in
the hope that
those bad
influences and
temptations in
our lives would
be eliminated.
That
could work for
possibly a day
or two, although
I don’t think
that is what God
has in mind for
us.
We are to
be a light onto
this darkened
world.
We are to
show the world
the love of God
without loving
the world. We
need to love the
sinner but hate
the sin.
How do we do
that?
First and
foremost, NEVER
take your eyes
off of Jesus.
Make it a habit
to always have
Him in the back
of your mind
throughout the
day. Talk to Him
all day long.
Everything that
happens to you,
thank Him with a
genuine heart─no
matter what.
Everything you
do, do for His
glory!
Rejoice always;
pray without
ceasing; in
everything give
thanks; for this
is God’s will
for you in
Christ Jesus” (1
Thessalonians 5:
16-18).
Second, think:
“What would
Jesus do?” If
everyone in the
world thought
that before they
opened their
mouths or set in
motion a
business
transaction or
before doing
anything, there
would be so much
more peace and
contentment in
life. Sin would
still be here,
but perhaps this
world would be a
little less
vicious and
cruel.
“Be imitators of
me, just as I
also am of
Christ” (1
Corinthians
11:1).
“For you have
been called for
this purpose,
since Christ
also suffered
for you, leaving
you an example
for you to
follow in His
steps” (1 Peter
2:21).
“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:
2).
Be aware of how
you react to
situations. Be
aware of what
words you speak
and how you
speak them.
Christians are
known by their
fruits and
believe it when
I tell you that
the world is
watching
everything you
do. If the world
gets wind that
you are a
Christian then
the game is on.
One false
word or one
insensitive act
and you are
toast. We are
judged as a
whole by the
actions of one
or a few. The
world loves to
find fault and
it wallows in
evil and takes
pleasure in the
misfortunes of
others,
especially
Christians.
When the Lord
calls me home,
whether I die or
am taken in the
Rapture, I want
to hear those
wonderful words:
“Well done,
thou good
and faithful
servant: thou
hast been
faithful over a
few things, I
will make thee
ruler over many
things: enter
thou into the
joy of thy lord”
(Matthew 25:21).
Praise God!
God bless!