A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Annointing.WordPress.com)
Scripture for the Day (August 20, 2018)
And be not conformed (molded, fashioned) to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
Have you noticed an escalating trend in our society to call things good that are bad and to call things bad that are good? The Bible not only tells us that our society will be like this in the end times, but it also gives us instruction on how we are to act as Christians during this period and how we are to stay clear of this type deception.
What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. (Isaiah 5:20, NLT)
For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:24 NLT)
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 1:1-5)
Certain things, even though much to our dislike, must come to pass. It’s all in God’s plan of what must take place before the second coming of His Son. Nothing we do or say will stop it. So, how are we supposed to respond?
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 1:20-23 NKJV)
There is not one place in the Book of Acts or any of the Epistles where Christians got sidetracked with the issues of the day even though their world was filled with injustices, corruption, cruelty, and evil. They always addressed those in authority with the proper respect. Paul could have very easily debated with the greatest minds of his time about the issues of the day. Instead he chose to preach Christ to everyone he came in contact with. The world needs to have lives transformed, not swayed! So please do not get angry as you see the blatant moral decline of our society and the unrighteous decisions of a government leader. You may be correct with what you say or write, but what good is it if you alienate and taint your witness for Christ.
Look around my friend for there are sinners all around us that need Christ and the simple Gospel. I will never forget trying to rent a highway billboard on the property next to our church in Tennessee. When I told the owner of the billboard that we wanted to put a scripture on the billboard and welcome people into our town he was not impressed. This man said he was a Christian and this was his response to me. “That won’t do any good. You have to make people do right!” Listen to me. You and I cannot make people do right. This man refused to rent us that billboard.
Let us be about doing what the Book of Jude instructed us to do (pray in the Holy Spirit, stay in the love of God, look for the mercy, show compassion, be distinct and different, snatch as many out of the fire as possible). That is what we are to concentrate on!!! We can get mad and argue and fuss all day but it is not going to make people do right. It does not work. It is the goodness of God that leads men and women to repentance and that works (Romans 2:4).
