Christians are NO part of the World and it’s Ways

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Has someone ever asked you why God in the Old Testament is portrayed as cruel and God in the New Testament is all full of love? Critics of the Bible try to make the argument that God is inconsistent from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

In the Old Testament He had the Israelites kill men, women and children when they conquered other nations. For example... "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations--the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you... and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy." Deuteronomy 7:1-2

People take these harsh edicts out of context and use them in an attempt to prove flaws and inconsistencies in God's character. Yet if you look at the circumstances in context and try to understand why God commanded what He did, it is much easier to see what was really going on.

The Israelites were a weak people. Case in point... they succumbed to temptation many times while in the desert after leaving Egypt. God was leading them, with them, and yet they were afraid they would die. You know the stories... while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the ten commandments from God, the Israelites had Aaron make a golden calf so they could worship it. That is just one instance where they did not remember or trust God. Their weakness as a people plagued them throughout their existence as a nation.

God told them that He would give them the land of their enemies, but they must kill everyone they conquer. Conquest was assured. They were to leave no one alive. On the surface, this seems pretty cruel of God, but you don't get a true sense of what God was doing if you stop at the apparent cruelty. The people who God was going to give over to the Israelites had rejected God and were wicked evil idol worshipers who offered human sacrifices to their false gods. They had brought judgement on themselves and their children. God was using Israel’s army to carryout His judgement on these people. With this understanding, God’s actions seem more reasonable and legitimate. It is His right to judge the nations and to execute punishment for their unrepentant wickedness.

Another reason that God did not want anyone spared, was that the Israelites were so weak that even a few of these people left alive would have been enough to corrupt the Israelites into sinful acts, including worshiping idols. In fact God even stated that He did not want any of the Israelites to intermarry with any foreign peoples. This edict had nothing to do with preserving the racial purity of blood lines, and everything to do with trying to protect his chosen people from being morally and spiritually corrupted. “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.” Deuteronomy 7:3-4

You might be thinking... this seems like an unnecessary command since the Israelites were told to destroy the people inhabiting the land God was going to give them. Again the problem was with the Israelites, not God’s commands. They had this nasty habit of not doing what God told them to do. As this passage from Judges clearly shows... “The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.” Judges 3:5-7

Moses fell on his face in the dirt many times pleading with God not to destroy the Israelites. Moses repeatedly asked God to have mercy on the Israelites. They kept sinning by succumbing to the world around them. The Israelites saw the mighty hand of God with their own eyes. Think about that... they were eye witnesses to the actions of the one, true and only living God. Yet they were quick to fall into sin and worship false gods and worthless idols.

God did not want His people contaminated by the world around them. He used the Israelites to show other peoples and nations His power. If the Israelites became contaminated by the rest of the world and continued unabated in worshiping idols and acting like everyone else in the fallen world, how could they have been a beacon of hope and purity to the sinful world around them? How could they have honored and glorified the true living God who had embraced them as His own? They could not.

Christians today must live in this sin-filled world. We must have contact with it on a daily basis. However, God calls us out of the world in the sense that we are to be above and beyond its corrupting influences. He wants us to be no part of the world, its thinking and ways. We are to be a “cut above” the world, so that His glory can shine through our lives and our actions. How else will anyone ever know that God can transform people to be truly different? If Christians are just like everyone else, why would anyone want to be one? Why put any stock in a Savior whose followers are just like everyone else? God has been trying to get sinful humanity to recognize this principle, since the fall of man.

The lives of the early Christians were dramatically changed through their devotion and commitment to God. Otherwise, no one would have even noticed them, much less followed them. Once Christ returned to heaven, no one could see Him or know Him, unless they observed the lives of His followers. The early Christians did a great job of “shining like light” of Christ’s power to transform a sinful life. People looked at the early Christians and they knew they were different. Everything about them was different... their focus, their attitudes... and their concern and love for all peoples.

Can the same be said for you today? When people look at you do they see something different from the world? There are a lot of 'good' people in the world, who try to live by a high moral standard, but they don't have a relationship with Christ. What sets you apart from those ‘good’ people? Do you look just like any other person who lives by high moral and ethical standards? Or is there something about you, that is unique and different?

Many things are not necessarily wrong in and of themselves. Paul said... "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Everything is permissible--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive." 1 Corinthians 10:21-23

Just because something is not wrong for us, does not mean it is good for us. Maybe even more important, is it good for others to see us in such habits and practices? I will leave to your own conscience the unending debates... such as whether a Christian should drink alcohol or smoke. Think about this... what if your drinking or smoking causes someone else to look at your life and say, "He is no different then me, so why should I bother listening to him?" Is the choice of movies you go to see potentially harmful to people observing you? Is what you are doing good for the soul of the unbeliever who sees your actions? If you are well known for breaking the speed limit, and that causes someone to not see the difference Christ has made in your life, even though in every other way you shine brightly with His glory, is speeding harmful to that person's soul? If we stand around and gossip like everyone else, are we causing someone to reject our living witness for Christ?

We carry an awesome responsibility. We must be doers of the Word. We must act and live according to the commitment we have made to Christ. As followers of Christ our lives are not our own anymore. We belong to Him. Our job is to bring others into a relationship with Him. If our lives do not reflect the glory of Christ, how will we ever be able to convince others to seek Him? Our lives are the “guideposts” that will lead people to either eternal life or eternal damnation. We may be on the right road, but which way are the guideposts of our lives pointing?

Do you know one of the biggest reasons people give for not going to church? Hypocrisy! Many people think that all Christians are hypocrites. You’ve heard the saying... out partying on Saturday night... singing hymns on Sunday morning. Or maybe co-workers see the “Christian” taking office supplies home from work while condemning others for stealing. Or maybe it’s the “words” that comes out of a Christian’s mouth when they hit their thumb with a hammer. Or condemning the evils of gambling while you the Christian go about playing the lottery in the hopes of winning millions. Don’t worry, if I win... I plan to give 15% to the church... well, maybe only 10%!

The unbeliever watching the lives of Christians knows very well the standards God expects of His people. The world holds us to those high standards. What standard do we hold yourself to?

You might think this is all unfair... what you do should be between you and God. If God does not convict us over something, then why should we worry about it, why care what other people think? Is our life just about what pleasure we can enjoy from whatever we’re doing? Do we care that other people may not come to know Christ because of us? Rest assured, while it might not register with you, it does with God. He knows every soul you have touched and influenced... positively or negatively. One day... He will remind you of the list. Personally, I don’t want to endure His reading a “list” of those souls I am responsible for condemning to eternal damnation because of my behavior and actions.

Turn all your guideposts towards Jesus and there won't be anything to worry about. That does not mean that the world will not still see things in your life that they try to claim make you the same as them. Satan loves to help people think that what Christians are doing is no better than what the world is doing. DON’T give him any ammunition.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Each Day... Make Small Commitments... Get Big Changes.

Every new year brings the proverbial “new years resolutions” out of people as they attempt to change or improve something about themselves. More exercise equipment is sold during January and February than any other time of the year.

Speaking of exercise equipment... between Christmas and New Years this year, I was tasked with cleaning out the basement of stuff we didn’t want or need anymore. Why does this happen? It happens to all of us... frequently. Isn’t it obvious... to make room for more stuff we’ll eventually not want or need... but won’t know that for a few more years. So I hauled three really nice pieces of exercise equipment up the stairs, and out to the front lawn near where the dumpster sits for the next morning trash pickup. I placed the pieces in a row near the edge of the lawn, near the curb. I knew there was no way the trasher hauler guy was going to take those three exercise machines... too big, too bulky. But they were really nice pieces. Really nice, hardly used... no nicks or scratches. I hoped, some nice folks with “new years” resolutions on their minds would stop by and snatch the equipment away, saving me the hassle of figuring out how to dispose of it. Sure enough, before the sun went down, the exercise machines were gone! Yippie! The new owners... they would have needed a pickup truck to move all the stuff at once. Thank you folks... whoever you are!

I hope they keep their pickup truck and watch our yard for more really good stuff they might want to have... stuff we like now, but won’t like... someday.

News Years Resolutions sort of make sense, but I don’t know many people who ever really stick with what it is they want to change or improve. Especially losing weight and getting in shape. Actually... most all the things we would like to do for personal self-improvement and even helping others is very simple. In fact, God expects us to make these self-improvements a daily commitment... part of our daily routines.

God expects you to take good care of yourself in mind, body, heart and soul. He has given you the essential tools to do just that everyday of your life. You don’t need fancy equipment, self-improvement videos or books... just common sense.

It starts with this axiom: Live your life... immersed in God’s Word... be in prayer constantly... be in fellowship with like believers. Care for yourself well in mind, body, heart and soul. Slow down... the pace of your life!

The following rules will help improve your overall physical and mental health and outlook on life. Keep these rules handy and review them often. Follow them and small, almost imperceptible changes will accumulate into big self-improvements. Your life will change.

Taking Care of You
Drink plenty of water. God loves water... He used it to make the human body, which is about 70% water!
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
Eat more fruits and vegetables and eat less that is manufactured in processing plants.
Avoid eating food that is handed to you through a window.
Live the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
Play more games... watch less TV.
Read more books than you did in 2009.
Sit in silence for at least 15 minutes each day. Why not pray?
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 20-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile and talk to yourself.

Your Outlook
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don't overdo. Keep within your physical limits.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don't remind others of their past mistakes.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Learn a new word every day.
Smile and laugh more.
You don't have to win every argument.

Your Relationships
Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Your Life
The worst promise you can break is one made to God.
Always, always, do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
The best is yet to come.
When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.
Seek Contentment and Peace. Follow it all the days of your life.
No matter how you feel, get up and show up.

A Final thought...
Not everyone has a relationship with God. Many simply don’t trust Him or care to surrender their lives to His will and authority. Many claim God, but don’t live their lives in a way that suggests they really care about His leadership in their lives.

If you know someone like that... share these rules with them. Cut & Paste them into an email or send them a link to this BLOG. Send to a friend, colleague or acquaintance. It is a simple and easy way to encourage someone and the benefits will bring them lasting contentment.

God... is at the center of all these rules for healthy living.

The hustle and flow of Daily Life.....

Every day is filled with things you need to remember. At the office... chair the 11AM budget meeting... prepare your presentation for the 2PM strategic planning meeting... at 4PM interview a prospective employee... read 42 emails and answer 7 that require immediate attention. On the way home... get the oil changed in your car... pick up the dry cleaning... stop at the grocery store for tonight’s dinner... pick out a card for your daughter’s birthday. The list just never ends does it?

A new list seems to appear at the beginning of each new day. Lists of things to remember, to get done—all good and important things that you can’t forget. We live fast paced lives. It feels like we’re moving at the speed of light just to keep up with work, family, friends, hobbies and hopefully church.

Most days revolve around our lists and we become stressed out by the constant pressure of completing the lists and tasks of everyday life. Do we take the time to think about God? Do we think about Him as frequently as we do the things on our lists? If you answer honestly, probably not.

We tend to look in all the wrong places for relief from life stresses. With so many things on our minds, we need to remember that there is one perso who can give us perspective and relief from the rat race... it’s God.

We need to live in constant awareness of who we are and who we belong to. We belong to God. In the midst of everything going on in our lives, we need to put God at the very top of our daily lists. If God is on our mind, it will make all the difference in our actions and attitudes throughout the day. Scripture admonishes us to make God a constant reflection throughout our day.

The book of Deuteronomy speaks of profound blessings that come to us if we make God the center of our lives.

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in these days." Does that sound somewhat familiar? Adulthood brings a full measure of life’s problems, stresses, anxieties and challenges. The admonishment...”remember your Creator”... is good advice. Learn to think about God while you’re young... making Him central in your mind and heart daily will become a habit.

Walk through the day with your Creator. Talk to him. Involve him in the things that stress and trouble you. Consult with him on all your choices and decisions. Your problems may not go away, but you will certainly handle them better if you rely on the comfort and security that can only come from trusting in God.

Remember who you are. You are a frail creature... dependent on God. All of us do what we can with what God gives us. He has promised us... Always do the right thing, and let ME worry about the outcomes. In the end, I'm the only one you have to answer to — no one else matters.

Are you too busy to enjoy your Life?

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. Psalm 39:6 NLT

A godly man once said... “if the devil can't hinder your relationship with God by making you immoral, he'll simply makes you busy.”

All we have to do is look around today, at our families, friends and colleagues to see the evidence of this reality. And where has all of our busyness gotten us? For starters, it's made us very tired. Very often, our busyness cuts into our sleep time, and when we do sleep, we don't enjoy the quality of sleep that our bodies really need. Scripture bears this out when it says, "Being too busy gives you nightmares." (Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT)

Our busy lifestyle is affecting our health, too. We push ourselves past the point at which our bodies and minds function properly, and we often suffer for it with headaches, stomachaches, anxiety and depression. This is not the way God wants us to be living. The Bible says, "A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body." (Proverbs 14:30 AMP)

Besides costing us our health and peace of mind, busyness can seriously impact our relationships... with God, with family and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we are feeling rushed, pressured and preoccupied, we are destined to mistreat the people around us. As a result, our relationships with our spouses, children, parents, and friends suffer. Most importantly, our relationship with God suffers. A wise man once said, "If you're too busy to spend time with God, then you're too busy!" If we don't spend regular, quality time with those we love,including God, our relationships will be shallow, meaningless, and unfulfilling.

The Bible tells is that we will eventually answer to God for what kept us busy while we lived on this earth. Scripture says: "For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]." (2 Corinthians 5:10 AMP)

We must ask ourselves, "What am I giving my attention to? What keeps me busy?" And we need to ask the Lord, "What do You want me to change? What would You have me leave alone?" Jesus told His disciples, "We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight." (John 9:4 AMP) Notice that the Savior said that WE must be busy with God's business. Every believer, committed to serving God has an assignment and purpose, and it's up to us to discover it, embrace it wholeheartedly and perform it as we walk in close fellowship with Him on a daily basis. King David wrote: "My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to You; human existence is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You." (Psalm 39:5-7 NLT) David recognized that his life on earth would be woefully brief, and that apart from God it would be completely meaningless.

If you are living an overly-busy lifestyle today, the Lord is asking you to make some changes. Be encouraged, He doesn't expect you to make them alone. He says: "Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace." (Matthew 11:28,29 MSG)

Begin Today... spend some time in the Savior's presence through prayer and in His Word, and let Him teach you how to follow in His footsteps of purpose, passion and peace! Embrace the lifestyle He has designed for you and enjoy your life!