I have heard and seen several things over the last few days that has had me thinking. We seem to think calling ourselves Christian and going to church once a week is all being a Christian is.
A Christian is by definition a Christ follower. One who would be like Him.
Like Him.
What does that mean? He was sent from heaven above to serve the Father’s purpose. To do as the God of Heaven directed Him to do.
So by extension this means if we are a Christ follower we are doing the Will of the Father. We are living a life solely dedicated to His Purpose.
Tough row to hoe, huh?
We are to be set apart, consecrated to the Will of God.
We are to be set apart, not of the world, but in the world to be a light to Christ and the Good News.
We are here to be the living embodiment of Christ. To point the way to the love of Christ, the peace and the joy of Christ.
We are not to be as the world. We are to be different.
How can we be different if we are doing what they do? Going where they go?
How can we be different if we are social drinking, or dancing or at the bar?
How can we be different if we walk, talk. act like they do?
We can’t.
By the way there is yet another reason we are to be set apart.
Abiding in the light and no occasion of stumbling. We are to be consecrated and set apart so that we do not cause our brother or sister to err.
At one point Paul in Romans took an issue that some saw as sin, and others did not. Paul said just because God gave you the liberty to do something, did not give you the right to do it if another saw you and sinned by following your example.
What if you saw your pastor walk in a bar, sit down and have a beer? What would that do to most of us?
What if someone who looks up to you sees you doing something that God has given you liberty to do,
meaning has not convicted you of that issue as sin, what will it cost your brother or sister in Christ if they witnessed you doing that?
We are our brother’s keeper.
We are the light and testimony to the world.
We are to daily renew our minds through the Word of God.
To daily die to self and live for God’s purpose and God’s Will.
To daily deny ourselves the earthly “pleasures” and set our eyes on the old rugged cross.
We are to be consecrated. We are to be different. We are to be an example.
This world needs true Christians not mere posers, This world needs to see dedicated consecrated Christians,
They have too many who are playing the part and not enough living the part.
The first century Christians gave of their time, their money, and their very lives to further the spread of the Gospel.
They lived in the catacombs to protect their lives, they did without food, comfort, money, they lived with joy in the face of certain death.
They died for their faith, they died strong in their convictions, unwavering in their belief even in the fire as they were burned to death, beheaded, crucified and fed to the lions.
They were consecrated, set apart to their God.
How can we in today's world be less? We have more freedom, and less faith than ever before.
We have more opportunity and less action than ever before.
The consecrated set apart Christian life is a thing to strive for. It is what a true professing, confessing Christian should be.
Stop wearing the title. Stop watering down the standards. Stop being christian light.
Renew your minds.
Reset your purpose.
Re-sound the trumpet call to service..
Reiterate the Gospel.
Rededicate to His purpose His Will.
A Christian is by definition a Christ follower. One who would be like Him.
Like Him.
What does that mean? He was sent from heaven above to serve the Father’s purpose. To do as the God of Heaven directed Him to do.
So by extension this means if we are a Christ follower we are doing the Will of the Father. We are living a life solely dedicated to His Purpose.
Tough row to hoe, huh?
We are to be set apart, consecrated to the Will of God.
Rom 12:1 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.
Rom 12:2 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.
We are to be set apart, not of the world, but in the world to be a light to Christ and the Good News.
We are here to be the living embodiment of Christ. To point the way to the love of Christ, the peace and the joy of Christ.
We are not to be as the world. We are to be different.
How can we be different if we are doing what they do? Going where they go?
How can we be different if we are social drinking, or dancing or at the bar?
How can we be different if we walk, talk. act like they do?
We can’t.
By the way there is yet another reason we are to be set apart.
1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1Jn 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
Abiding in the light and no occasion of stumbling. We are to be consecrated and set apart so that we do not cause our brother or sister to err.
At one point Paul in Romans took an issue that some saw as sin, and others did not. Paul said just because God gave you the liberty to do something, did not give you the right to do it if another saw you and sinned by following your example.
What if you saw your pastor walk in a bar, sit down and have a beer? What would that do to most of us?
What if someone who looks up to you sees you doing something that God has given you liberty to do,
meaning has not convicted you of that issue as sin, what will it cost your brother or sister in Christ if they witnessed you doing that?
We are our brother’s keeper.
We are the light and testimony to the world.
We are to daily renew our minds through the Word of God.
To daily die to self and live for God’s purpose and God’s Will.
To daily deny ourselves the earthly “pleasures” and set our eyes on the old rugged cross.
We are to be consecrated. We are to be different. We are to be an example.
This world needs true Christians not mere posers, This world needs to see dedicated consecrated Christians,
They have too many who are playing the part and not enough living the part.
The first century Christians gave of their time, their money, and their very lives to further the spread of the Gospel.
They lived in the catacombs to protect their lives, they did without food, comfort, money, they lived with joy in the face of certain death.
They died for their faith, they died strong in their convictions, unwavering in their belief even in the fire as they were burned to death, beheaded, crucified and fed to the lions.
They were consecrated, set apart to their God.
How can we in today's world be less? We have more freedom, and less faith than ever before.
We have more opportunity and less action than ever before.
The consecrated set apart Christian life is a thing to strive for. It is what a true professing, confessing Christian should be.
Stop wearing the title. Stop watering down the standards. Stop being christian light.
Renew your minds.
Reset your purpose.
Re-sound the trumpet call to service..
Reiterate the Gospel.
Rededicate to His purpose His Will.
No comments:
Post a Comment