Called out to be separate—not
conformed
We have been
called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted,
dedicated—to the Lord.
One aspect of
holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we
will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view,
listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or
detriment. We must choose to feed
ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For
example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives
you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want?
Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm
them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual
choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the
straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to
seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to
DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The
unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a
lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view
that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your
mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto
you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not
fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And
if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to
every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained
before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for
you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from
the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing
ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure
heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For
all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But
the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you.
1
Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If
so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1
Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)
For the grace of God that bringeth
salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)
