Feb. 4, 2008
DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT!
Our 30th President, Calvin Coolidge observed, “The foundation of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.”
That statement “wowed” me. What does it do for you? In all reality it just shows us how far away from God we have “slid” as a nation.
It is my sincere belief that God has blessed our nation because of our legacy of faith. Now there is a subtle force working to remove every vestige of Christianity from the public arena. While this is happening our morals are decaying and we are delivering to the next generation of young people, a “society without any moral moorings or belief in a Higher Authority!” By His grace let us work to re-establish homes and lives built on Biblical Authority.
Let me give you a “what if” scenario.
Suppose you were on trial, accused of being a Christian. If the prosecuting attorney assembled a group of your friends to testify against you, would there be any dramatic moments? Would they whirl and point their finger at you and call you different, or maybe even call you a Christian? It is my sincere believe that God always has a witness. During any time period He has a handful of people whose lives are so uniquely different that the world would easily convict them of being a Christian.
The poet Edgar Guest did well state:
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I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely show me the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and much sharper than the ear.
Fine counsel can confuse me, but example’s always clear.
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do!
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Phillip W. Keller’s book, A Laymen Looks at the Lord’s Prayer, contained a little line that most of us have heard; it is certainly worthy of repeating at this time. Here is the quote:
You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day
By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say;
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.
Say….what is the gospel according to you?
Paul would write in the New Testament and exhort each of us by the statement: “we are known and read of all men…” (II Corinthians 3:2)
It’s kind of like the blind man walking down the street carrying a shining flashlight. Someone asked him why, being blind, would he carry a flashlight. “Because,” he said, “I don’t want anyone to stumble because of me..!”
The conclusion of thought for today is simple.
- Dare to be different!
- Dare to be an example of a believer!
- Dare to live for Christ!
- Just live for him!
Sincerely, Pastor Ed Sears
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