Heart Reflections Live

Rom.12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, & acceptable,& perfect will of God."

The highway of the world is littered with so many things that can trap us, trip us up, or distract us from our relationship with God. Has anyone else noticed the world's influence invading the church? Does anyone these days still hear sermons that warn against worldliness? Or on living a separated life?

When we lose our separateness, we lose some of our witness. We are to be in the world, but not of it. If we act like the world, talk like the world & look like the world, we do not stand out like God's peculiar people we are called to be: We blend in & busy, self-centred people living busy lives never notice, because we are not noticeably different. It takes more than a Jesus T-shirt or a cross around the neck to stand up for Christ- we are to be clothed with Him- his character, His love, His humility.

In Duet 14:2,The Hebrew people were called to live a separated life & for thousands of years, many have kept their heritage & godly traditions & are a wonder to the world today, as many still do not blend in. They are our examples in the New Testament (even though we live by faith & not by Keeping the Law) & we are warned in the light of their mistakes 1Cor 10:1-11.

Here are some New Testament scriptures that warn against worldliness:
James 1:27 "Pure religion & undefiled before God & the Father is this, To visit the fatherless & widows in their affliction, & to keep himself unspotted from the world."

James 4:4 " Ye adulterers & adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

1 John 2 :15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, & the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, & the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

Read also:2 Cor 6:14-18, Titus 2:11-14, & 1 Peter 2:9-12

It seems to me that so many modern churches have things upsidedown. In their desire to win the lost, they are trying to make their church suit the world, whereas if they loved one another & lifted up the name of Jesus, many would be drawn to Christ.