I was at the grocery store today. While I was there I thought I would try to pick out the shoppers that are Christians. I guess there should be something that sets them apart from the unbelievers. A different hair style? Different clothes? Do they buy different items? Smell different? Christians don't smoke so all non-smokers must be Christians. I didn't see anyone carrying a Bible. The cars in the parking lot all looked normal. Some of them had fish symbols on the back, I guess they belonged to the non-smokers.
Please forgive me for being so sarcastic. The point I'm trying to make is this, what does a Christian look like? How are we set apart? There have been times when someone has said to me, "You must be a Christian because you ......... I've also heard, "I thought you were a Christian, why did you .......
We need to get a picture of what a Christian life is and what it is not. It's not a life of strict rules, regulations, dos, and don'ts. That's what the world/unsaved think. Do this, don't do that, don't smoke, drink, or chew, or hang around with women who do. Is that the best way we have to show who Jesus is, what he's done, and why we follow Him? Read Colossians 2:16-23.
1 Peter 1:15 says, "...but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." Romans 12:1 says, "...to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God..." The question then is this, what does it mean to be holy?
To be holy means to be separated unto God, the result being conduct befitting those so separated. Some Bible translations use the word sanctification. Sanctification is separation of the believer from evil things and ways. I would say set apart from the "world" or "earthly ways".
When I say earthly ways, what am I talking about? There are many Scriptures that tell us. The one that comes to mind for me is this, Colossians 3:5-10. It says, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Paul then goes on to say in verses 12-14, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
How important is love? Matthew 22:37-40 says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is just like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Of course this love is extended to enemies too. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Read 1 Corinthians 13, the "love" chapter, apply it to your life and include your enemies. Wow!
Let me take some lines out of Romans chapters 12-15 to bring this entry to a close. We should not be conformed to this world but transformed by renewing our minds. We shouldn't think too highly of ourselves. Our love should be genuine, outdoing one another in showing honor. We should be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer. We should contribute to the needs of the saints and show hospitality. If you are wronged, do not avenge yourself. A Christian overcomes evil with good, feeding a hungry enemy. Pay taxes, revenue, respect, and honor to whom it is due. We should welcome one who is weak in faith. Don't pass judgement on each other over special days, eating, or abstaining from, certain foods. "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Rom.15:1,2) We should live in harmony with one another and be servants.
There is so much more. How does all this compare with the wisdom of the world? How does it compare with your experience? Living this way would truly set you apart. I think it would be noticed too. God bless y'all real good.
