Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."¹

An English bishop once said, "Everywhere the Apostle Paul went there was either a revival or a revolution. Everywhere I go they serve tea."

As you can well imagine, when I write on such topics as homosexuality and abortion, and seek to present a biblical view, I don't get served tea. In fact, I get both bouquets and bricks. The bouquets are very nice and are appreciated. The bricks are usually well aimed and could hurt deeply if I took them personally, which I don't. I also usually lose a number of subscribers at these times.

The reality is if as a preacher, teacher, or communicator I speak or write to please everybody, I will end up pleasing nobody and my life will never amount to anything worthwhile, and I certainly won't please God.

If we want to make an impact on our society, Christians need to take a loving but firm stand against pornography, illicit sexuality, abortion for any reason (not including if the mother's life is in serious danger), homosexuality, alcoholism, etc., and all the things God opposes, for they are ultimately self-destructive. And let us not purchase the products of companies we may know who support organizations or groups who promote the things God hates.

By way of interest, if we don't hate unrighteousness, we don't love righteousness. If we are to be true followers of Jesus, we need to hate the things God hates and love the things He loves. While He loves all sinners, He hates all sin. Furthermore, as Christians we are called to impact and change our culture and not allow the culture to impact and change us.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the desire to know Your Word, the wisdom to understand Your ways, and the courage to stand up for what You say, and not be conformed by today's culture with its ever-increasing non-biblical, politically correct world view. Grant that my life will make a differenceâ€"no matter how smallâ€"so that I will not have lived in vain. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).

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