Thursday May 17, 2012

Remember W.W.J.D?

Seek to live every moment today as Jesus would have you live.

 

Read Deuteronomy 18:9;   1 John 2:15-17

 

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  But God’s people should never seek to imitate the world or the evil practices of the world. The nation of Israel was not to glance longingly at the nations around them and their practices. The false worship they observed may have looked attractive and even exciting but it as never to be imitated.

 

Churches also should be very careful in their approach to the world. There are many things in the world that look exciting and may appear to draw crowds. They may be fun and offer great potential in reaching out to the world or to draw the world into our buildings.
We must be very careful not to imitate the ways of the world around us, simply because something is popular or fun or exciting. When a church seeks to run a rock concert performance on Sonday morning then maybe it’s imitating the world. When the church wants more than one God to pray to, maybe it’s imitating the world. When the church wants to make the Bible more palatable by leaving out the uncomfortable bits maybe it’s imitating the world. If a church wants its staff to drive the most modern cars and have the plushest offices and auditorium, then maybe it’s imitating the world. When a church runs witchcraft lessons or new age seminars it is definitely imitating the world.

 

We are told clearly and bluntly in 1 John 2:15-17 that we are not to love the world or anything in the world. The world with all of its desires and cravings and all of its achievements will simply pass away. It will be destroyed. But the one who does the will of God will live for ever.

 

Christ Jesus is the one we are to be imitating.  You can seek to imitate Him in everything you do today, in every meeting, in every action and even in every thought. Be a Christ imitator today.

 

Prayer:

¥ Pray for the work of the PIM, Presbyterian Inland Mission. Pray that God would bless our padres with a warm welcome in each town and station they visit. Pray that God would open doors for them to share the good news and to bring blessing to these farmers and their families. Pray that God would encourage them and protect them on their travels.

¥ Pray for our school chaplains. Pray that God would use these men and women powerfully to bring Christ into our schools. Pray that there would be continuous open doors to speak of Christ, to demonstrate His love and to lead many students, teachers and parents to Christ.