Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1
As we think about this idea from last Wednesday night about not sending mixed messages through how we live, this is a great verse to look at.
In this passage as I first read it years ago I thought it meant that I needed to stop hanging out with my friends that weren't Christians. As I've spent more time thinking and studying on it over the last few years I've come to realize that that isn't what it means.
There is definitely a theme of evaluating relationships with non-Christ Followers. However, I think the idea is that Christ would rather we make our strongest relationships with those who are Christ Followers. These relationships will help to encourage us, strengthen us and help us grow closer in our relationship with him. If our strongest relationships are with people who don't know Christ then we have room for error in judgment, in our actions and in how we live.
"Therefore come out from them and be separate."
Paul's desire is not for us to have all Christian friends. He wants us to be active in our witness to our non-Christian friends while avoiding situations, which sometimes involves our friends, that could cause us to compromise our faith or start to question our relationship with Christ. He's not saying stay away from your lost friends at all cost, but rather stay closer to Christ and do all you can to get closer to Him. He wants us to BE DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD.
How have you been trying to stay different from the world?
How can you stand out more for Christ while being a loving example to your friends of who Christ is?
Jesus wants us to help radically change this world by how we live our lives and by doing that sending a message to others about His love.
What steps do you need to take to make sure that message is being sent LOUD and CLEAR to those around you?
Respond . . .
3 comments:
I have trying to be different in a few ways like keepin rednecks aware of nascar and keepin them out of incest ha ha just kiddin. i stay different by following christ and trying to get my friends to follow too.
i dont understand it too much
Lately i wanted to be like the "cool kids" doing "cool things". or like being like my good friend, smart, pretty and so funny. but then i said im not those things im ME for a reason, even though people might call me dumb i dont care, im just kidding im not really stupid! so thats how I stay different from the rest of the world, being ME! best way!
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