Why Christians Must Be Different
August 25, 2013
Why Christians Must Be Different. ~Randy Oakley
Most people want to be a part of some sort of group, so they will do whatever they have to to be accepted.
1 Peter 4:2&3... that he may live...not for the desires of flesh... but for God's will.... they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively...
When a person becomes a Christian, he is different than the world.
Duet 7:6... you are a holy people to Jehovah your God...
So they were to be separate from the nations around them and different.
In the first century...
John 15:8.... if you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is it's own...
so they were so distinct and different from the world, so different.
Historians have also noted just how different Christians back then were from the world.
Acts 15:14... He has taken a people from the nations...
Isa 43:10... we are his Witnesses
Isa 42.... we testify Jehovah as the Sovereign
John 13:35... all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourself....
Regardless of your religion, you have to acknowledge Jehovah's Witnesses building an Assembly Hall with no egotism, is a sign of True Christianity
2 Tim 3:12...
Heb 11:24... to be ill treated with the people of God...
1 Pet 2:11... as alien residents...temporary residents...
They recognized their real position.
God's people are to stand out as different. We strive to live and think with God's standards. And this really separates us from the world.
John 17:15... not to take them OUT of the world, but watch over them.
So we are not to literally live separate, but we live among the world, so that we can continue to help others to also live with God's standards.
But we still have peer pressure to deal with. It can be a problem, so how do we deal with it?
Ps 119:9... by keep guard according to Your word...with my whole heart I have searched for you... do not cause me to go astray from your commandments...I have treasured up your sayings...
So by our good witness that we may draw others to God.
If we pray for God's help not to fall and stick close to one another. Youths do well to draw close to older ones. We can cope with peer pressure.
Matt 6:32... we seek it first...
materialism and riches are what the world seek, but that is not what we seek.
Matt 7:31... those not using it to the full...
Not using the world to the full, a few things may be needed, but not a pursuit of material thing and riches as that is not life saving.
What am I pursuing as a career. Am I whole soul to God? what are my standards?
Phl 4: ...whatever things are true, serious concern, praise worthy, ...continue considering these things...
Gal 5: ... works of the flesh... those who practice such things will not inherit God's Kingdom.
....Love, joy, peace.... against such things there is no law
This is to help us to consider such things. We do not embrace the world's fleshly desires. Avoiding entertainment that gets our thinking going in the wrong direction. Including bad association. We want to associate only with those who have the same thinking of God's high moral standards.
Our dress and grooming can also have an effect on not just ourselves but others. Not seeking the world's fashions but to be modesty. We want to be aware of limits and chastity.
There are many blessings from living by God's standards.
Mal 3:18... you will see the distinction between standards...
Each year the contrast between those who live by God's standards and the world's standards become more and more distinct.
By living by His standards we have his approval and blessings.
Satan has his own machinations, his own sinister plot to get us to turn from keeping God's standards. But if we desire to keep Jehovah's favor, he will help us.
===================================================================================
WT lesson
Appreciate Jehovah's Loyalty and Forgiveness
Ps 86:5 "You, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; and the loving-kindness to all those calling upon you is abundant."
Loyalty includes devotion, faithfulness and unswerving allegiance. sticking closely to that person or thing even when difficult circumstances arise.
Jehovah never abandons his faithful worshippers. During David's trials, Jehovah loyally guided, protected and delivered him.
We want to imitate Jehovah's loyalty, in our marriage and among our brothers and sisters. By not even thinking of doing anything that would lead us down the wrong path and taking the initiative to offer help can comfort to others who are suffering.
Jehovah is forgiving in a large way. This too we want to imitate by pardoning an offender who shows genuine repentance. Jehovah completely and permanently forgives, because when he forgives he blots out the sin of the truly repentant one by "wiping the slate clean" completely. This makes true forgiveness possible. And Jehovah assures us that once he forgives, he will NEVER in the future act against us because of those sins. Unlike imperfect man, he does not rehash our sins. We want to imitate this because we never want to accuse others who have wronged us and punish them over and over again. It means that we choose to let go of resentment.
Even when we are deeply hurt by someone, it is vital to remember Job's example. He was falsely accused and Jehovah asked him to pray for his "comforters". But Jehovah also reproved the three and directed them to present an offering for their sins. When you have to pray for someone, it will soften your heart towards them and allow true forgiveness to begin.
We want to continue to become acquainted with Jehovah's qualities, reflect on them and imitate them in our own life, so that we too can deepen our appreciation for Jehovah's endearing personality.
Most people want to be a part of some sort of group, so they will do whatever they have to to be accepted.
1 Peter 4:2&3... that he may live...not for the desires of flesh... but for God's will.... they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively...
When a person becomes a Christian, he is different than the world.
Duet 7:6... you are a holy people to Jehovah your God...
So they were to be separate from the nations around them and different.
In the first century...
John 15:8.... if you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is it's own...
so they were so distinct and different from the world, so different.
Historians have also noted just how different Christians back then were from the world.
Acts 15:14... He has taken a people from the nations...
Isa 43:10... we are his Witnesses
Isa 42.... we testify Jehovah as the Sovereign
John 13:35... all will know you are my disciples if you have love among yourself....
Regardless of your religion, you have to acknowledge Jehovah's Witnesses building an Assembly Hall with no egotism, is a sign of True Christianity
2 Tim 3:12...
Heb 11:24... to be ill treated with the people of God...
1 Pet 2:11... as alien residents...temporary residents...
They recognized their real position.
God's people are to stand out as different. We strive to live and think with God's standards. And this really separates us from the world.
John 17:15... not to take them OUT of the world, but watch over them.
So we are not to literally live separate, but we live among the world, so that we can continue to help others to also live with God's standards.
But we still have peer pressure to deal with. It can be a problem, so how do we deal with it?
Ps 119:9... by keep guard according to Your word...with my whole heart I have searched for you... do not cause me to go astray from your commandments...I have treasured up your sayings...
So by our good witness that we may draw others to God.
If we pray for God's help not to fall and stick close to one another. Youths do well to draw close to older ones. We can cope with peer pressure.
Matt 6:32... we seek it first...
materialism and riches are what the world seek, but that is not what we seek.
Matt 7:31... those not using it to the full...
Not using the world to the full, a few things may be needed, but not a pursuit of material thing and riches as that is not life saving.
What am I pursuing as a career. Am I whole soul to God? what are my standards?
Phl 4: ...whatever things are true, serious concern, praise worthy, ...continue considering these things...
Gal 5: ... works of the flesh... those who practice such things will not inherit God's Kingdom.
....Love, joy, peace.... against such things there is no law
This is to help us to consider such things. We do not embrace the world's fleshly desires. Avoiding entertainment that gets our thinking going in the wrong direction. Including bad association. We want to associate only with those who have the same thinking of God's high moral standards.
Our dress and grooming can also have an effect on not just ourselves but others. Not seeking the world's fashions but to be modesty. We want to be aware of limits and chastity.
There are many blessings from living by God's standards.
Mal 3:18... you will see the distinction between standards...
Each year the contrast between those who live by God's standards and the world's standards become more and more distinct.
By living by His standards we have his approval and blessings.
Satan has his own machinations, his own sinister plot to get us to turn from keeping God's standards. But if we desire to keep Jehovah's favor, he will help us.
===================================================================================
WT lesson
Appreciate Jehovah's Loyalty and Forgiveness
Ps 86:5 "You, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive; and the loving-kindness to all those calling upon you is abundant."
Loyalty includes devotion, faithfulness and unswerving allegiance. sticking closely to that person or thing even when difficult circumstances arise.
Jehovah never abandons his faithful worshippers. During David's trials, Jehovah loyally guided, protected and delivered him.
We want to imitate Jehovah's loyalty, in our marriage and among our brothers and sisters. By not even thinking of doing anything that would lead us down the wrong path and taking the initiative to offer help can comfort to others who are suffering.
Jehovah is forgiving in a large way. This too we want to imitate by pardoning an offender who shows genuine repentance. Jehovah completely and permanently forgives, because when he forgives he blots out the sin of the truly repentant one by "wiping the slate clean" completely. This makes true forgiveness possible. And Jehovah assures us that once he forgives, he will NEVER in the future act against us because of those sins. Unlike imperfect man, he does not rehash our sins. We want to imitate this because we never want to accuse others who have wronged us and punish them over and over again. It means that we choose to let go of resentment.
Even when we are deeply hurt by someone, it is vital to remember Job's example. He was falsely accused and Jehovah asked him to pray for his "comforters". But Jehovah also reproved the three and directed them to present an offering for their sins. When you have to pray for someone, it will soften your heart towards them and allow true forgiveness to begin.
We want to continue to become acquainted with Jehovah's qualities, reflect on them and imitate them in our own life, so that we too can deepen our appreciation for Jehovah's endearing personality.
Posted by Robyn Nelson.
