Changing the World Around You

We are all influenced by the world around us. How we dress, how we talk, how we act. It's all influenced by who we're around and our perception of popularity. We all desire to fit in. No one truly wants to be completely alone in life. Maybe for a short time, which isn't a bad thing, but deep down we all have a longing to be wanted and be loved. This isn't technically a bad thing, but it can lead to it. Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

My Pastor made a statement the other day during a Sunday morning service that actually got me thinking. He said that we as Christians should do more to influence the world, rather than allowing the world to influence us, and that is so true. Titus 2:12 " And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God." 

In our daily, busy lives we tend to allow ourselves to be surrounded by worldly things, which later on can influence us to make worldly decisions. Now don't get me wrong, we are supposed to love the sinner, regardless of their sin. We should be kind to one another, the way we would want to be treated, regardless of religion, race, or monetary stature. 

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Colossians 3:12-14 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, 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 also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Jesus spent time with the gentiles. He ate dinner with them, talked with them, and treated them as His own because THEY ARE HIS OWN. The unsaved may have turned their backs on God, but He still loves them unconditionally. We should love others just as God has loved us. 

1 John 4:9-11 "God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other."

Don't let the world conform you. We were born to stand out. God created us in His image, so that we can be examples for Him, and show His unending love, grace, compassion, and mercy to one another. Be a living testimony for others. You may be the only Bible they ever read.

 "Be the change you want to see in the world" -Mahatma Ghandi