And so I insist--and God backs me up on this--that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. (Ephesians 4:17-19 MSG)
Does this speak to you? Statistics prove that professed Christians and their behaviors are no better than those who profess to be 'nones', having no religious affiliation. Don't you find it staggering how we, who call ourselves after Jesus Christ, don't try to act more like Him?
True Discipleship, "doing the things Jesus did and saying the things Jesus said", can't be taught too often. Jesus died so we have a better way to live. Jesus died so we can live forever with Him. This sounds so trite and just what one might expect from a devotion like this, but...truth is truth.
Examine culture today. Who do we idolize, follow on Facebook, pattern our lives after? If you are over forty, think about life twenty year ago. What made you happy? What disgusted you? Now look at today and ask those same two questions. If you are over fifty or more than sixty, the answers are even more stunning.
Paul taught the people that things must change. Behaviors of our past need to reflect Jesus' influence on us. No more following the crowd. It is time to get our priorities right. We need to put emphasis on the saying, "they will know we are Christian by our love." Adding, they know we are Christian by our actions and by hearing our stories.
Ephesians 4:17-19
Does this speak to you? Statistics prove that professed Christians and their behaviors are no better than those who profess to be 'nones', having no religious affiliation. Don't you find it staggering how we, who call ourselves after Jesus Christ, don't try to act more like Him?
True Discipleship, "doing the things Jesus did and saying the things Jesus said", can't be taught too often. Jesus died so we have a better way to live. Jesus died so we can live forever with Him. This sounds so trite and just what one might expect from a devotion like this, but...truth is truth.
Examine culture today. Who do we idolize, follow on Facebook, pattern our lives after? If you are over forty, think about life twenty year ago. What made you happy? What disgusted you? Now look at today and ask those same two questions. If you are over fifty or more than sixty, the answers are even more stunning.
Paul taught the people that things must change. Behaviors of our past need to reflect Jesus' influence on us. No more following the crowd. It is time to get our priorities right. We need to put emphasis on the saying, "they will know we are Christian by our love." Adding, they know we are Christian by our actions and by hearing our stories.
Ephesians 4:17-19
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