When God called you to be a Christian, he already knew that you are not a conformist. And he knew that being human, you'd probably like to be. It's in our nature to pick our attitudes, dress, values, and words from the people we are around the most.
Wouldn't it be great if we could just align ourselves with the people we WANT to copy? Not rock the boat; not disagree on matters of priority or values or morals? Being a Christian involves a personal commitment to be better than the world we live in.
We cannot outsource our daily decisions about what we think, say and do to our spouse, parents, pastor or favorite celebrity. Yet living as we do in a world where people are constantly sending signals of their choices and values via social media, there has never been time in history when it was more difficult to be a Christian. That's why the book of Revelation calls this era "the hour of temptation". We NEED to be better each day.
Easier said than done. So in this short episode we focus on the command of Romans 12:2, and reflect on how Jesus set us an example in that regard. If you are eager to be successful in the Christian quest, this podcast may offer simple, straightforward baby steps toward doing those things that help you grow.
This episode focuses on just one phrase in Romans 12, at the beginning of verse 2. "Be not conformed..." Are you ready to think about it in the same way Jesus did?
This new podcast is meant for serious Christians -- people who are focused on following Jesus faithfully, until death. The trials are real, but the joys are beyond expression. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard ... the things God has been preparing for those who love him supremely.
The more we pay attention to the terms of discipleship and predictions of the actual deeds of Jesus' truest followers, there have not been many humble, meek Jesus followers who made it into the pages of history. Most genuine, obedient Christians have been laboring in anonymity, ignored or even hounded by the powerful forces of the outwardly respectable, "orthodox" Christian geopolitical system.
For the most part, the true followers of Jesus were not famous, they did not have official recognition, they did not seek or gain political power, and often they were oppressed, persecuted, neutralized in this life. Probably, few made their living as "ministers of the gospel". They were like the ancient prophets of old
-- men and women who suffered for their faithfulness-- "of whom the world was not worthy."
But the future era will be different. Jesus will exalt his obedient followers. They will be revealed by him as having been victorious in his eyes. He will promote them to places of power and influence in his future "government of the world, when the times are ripe for it." (Ephesians 1:9,10 -- Weymouth translation.)
When God called you to be a Christian, he already knew that you are not a conformist. And he knew that being human, you'd probably like to be. It's in our nature to pick our attitudes, dress, values, and words from the people we are around the most.
Wouldn't it be great if we could just align ourselves with the people we WANT to copy? Not rock the boat; not disagree on matters of priority or values or morals? Being a Christian involves a personal commitment to be better than the world we live in.
We cannot outsource our daily decisions about what we think, say and do to our spouse, parents, pastor or favorite celebrity. Yet living as we do in a world where people are constantly sending signals of their choices and values via social media, there has never been time in history when it was more difficult to be a Christian. That's why the book of Revelation calls this era "the hour of temptation". We NEED to be better each day.
Easier said than done. So in this short episode we focus on the command of Romans 12:2, and reflect on how Jesus set us an example in that regard. If you are eager to be successful in the Christian quest, this podcast may offer simple, straightforward baby steps toward doing those things that help you grow.
This episode focuses on just one phrase in Romans 12, at the beginning of verse 2. "Be not conformed..." Are you ready to think about it in the same way Jesus did?
This new podcast is meant for serious Christians -- people who are focused on following Jesus faithfully, until death. The trials are real, but the joys are beyond expression. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard ... the things God has been preparing for those who love him supremely.
The more we pay attention to the terms of discipleship and predictions of the actual deeds of Jesus' truest followers, there have not been many humble, meek Jesus followers who made it into the pages of history. Most genuine, obedient Christians have been laboring in anonymity, ignored or even hounded by the powerful forces of the outwardly respectable, "orthodox" Christian geopolitical system.
For the most part, the true followers of Jesus were not famous, they did not have official recognition, they did not seek or gain political power, and often they were oppressed, persecuted, neutralized in this life. Probably, few made their living as "ministers of the gospel". They were like the ancient prophets of old
-- men and women who suffered for their faithfulness-- "of whom the world was not worthy."
But the future era will be different. Jesus will exalt his obedient followers. They will be revealed by him as having been victorious in his eyes. He will promote them to places of power and influence in his future "government of the world, when the times are ripe for it." (Ephesians 1:9,10 -- Weymouth translation.)