Why change?

Titus 2:6  Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8  and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Why Why Why? It is the age old question….if we are so free, so saved, then why must we work so hard to be so different. In today’s world there is not a lot of difference between those of us that go to Church, and those of us that don’t. This is what Paul was warning about here. You see, God loves each of us, there is no doubt of that, each of us have the free, open ended invitation to salvation, yet we must choose it. Once chosen, we truly are a new being, a new person, a new creation…..not just for God to see, but for the world to see. From the moment we give our lives to Christ, to the day we draw our last breath, we strive to be more like Christ. Here we find the answer to the question why. Christ was not like the rest of the world. He was very different. His actions matched His teachings. Not like the rulers, and priests of His time, who practiced one thing yet preached another. Christ was in fact a living example of His Fathers word.  

Today we are called to try and walk in the same path. Will we be as successful as Christ? I can promise you, we will fall short. However we must push on, as Paul would say, we must run the race to win the prize. Most of all, we must work to live a life that shows the differences between a life of Christ, and a life of this world. The world is watching, our neighbor is watching, our friends are watching. Will we live the life Christ has called us to, or will we praise the Lord form one side of our mouth, and chase the world with the other? I am in no way saying this is easy, I am in no way saying this all happens overnight. It is a lifelong process, and that is what makes it hard.

Today we will find ourselves at work, in school, and many other social occasions, will re remember these words? Will we strive today, to live better than yesterday? Can we promise to tell one less lie, take one less short cut, to say one more (maybe it is just one) prayer, to give God thanks one extra time today? I wish I could tell you that you give your life to Christ, and, your life becomes a bed of roses. That would be a lie. It is all about that next step. Some days we take a giant leap ahead, and some days we might only move an inch forward. The point is to keep moving forward. Continue to reach for the goals in this scripture, continue to press towards the finish line. God knows you can do it, Christ died to make sure we have the chance…..the world is watching….let’s give them a picture of what Christ’s life, love, and forgiveness looks like.

Brian  Thetford

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson