Our Molds

Friday, ‎December ‎11, ‎2020

Good Morning, Lord

V.O.D.: For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.—Philippians 1:29

M.O.M.: Ephesians 4:31

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.(English Standard Version)

Today's reading: HOSEA 9-11 REVELATION 3

Our Molds

Romans 12:1&2-12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We are instructed to not conform to the pattern of this world-we are not to let the world push us into its mold. We are to be transformed-changed- by the renewing of our minds. We must see from this that the enemy is about warping our minds and he never lets up and, so, we must renew our minds over and over.

What happens if we do not read God's word and just 'say' we believe? Answer: We want Easter without the crucifixion. We want to create a god in our own mold that comes from conditioning by the world. We want trials without any suffering. We want Christmas without having to explain the virgin birth. We want to say that our proper worship comes from our going to church, when convenient, and filling the plate, and showing up at Bible study. We want righteousness without cost. We want the renewing of our minds to be in a controlled atmosphere where there is as little discomfort as possible. We want to be holy without suffering.

Our Verse of the day tells us:"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1:29

Paul said:"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18

"That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death." Philippians 3:10

The church today is in danger because it has sought to rid itself of suffering. We live in a country where we believe we are entitled to live without suffering. Our country has gone so far off track that our politicians work to make the criminal element part of the mainstream.

Can you see a little bit of a pattern here? Both church and country are listening to the enemy. Freedom without consequences cannot exist. Holiness without suffering is only a word-that looks and feels good.

How can Christians live in a world that listens to the best selling author and the most powerful politicians that leave God out of everything? They would have to fall in line and conform to the world's thinking --or-- fall on their knees and crucify self everyday to be the disciples of Christ. There is no middle ground for the Christian. It is either one or the other.

Isaiah wrote about our Lord in our world:Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Renewing our minds for Christ is just what Jesus said,

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23

The world of the enemy says we can have Easter without the crucifixion-freedom without righteousness-New year(new beginnings)without Christmas-holiness without God-Godliness without following God.

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

Do we love God or do we simply say it? We must give up our control to Him.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me this awful 'foot in both worlds' I try to live. I give it all up to you.

Merciful Father and forgiving God.

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen