Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Don't Copy Cool

“Don’t Copy Cool”

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about working with computers is using the copy code.  I’ve used this so many times through my life and it saves so much time from having to write things out each time.  I can just copy and paste.  I’m sure many of you as well really enjoy using this feature.  I have used it many times with various jobs I have and I use it daily in my current office job. It is so convenient just copying the info I want to move to a different place instead of taking the time to type everything out all over again.

While this copy feature is amazing, I cannot help but think how this carries over into my life and walk with God.  I have so often become so accustomed to copying so much over into my life that seems way easier than doing what God asks me to do.  I see so many things in life that look way cool and I just copy and paste it into my walk with God.  However, many of these things He does not like.  I tend to copy a lot of customs and behaviors from the world into my life that I shouldn’t. 

I find myself so often copying what the world does and then I wonder why my walk with God doesn’t improve.  This is a daily challenge and I’m sure it is for so many of you as well.  It is so much easier to just copy what the world does instead of going against the flow and being transformed as God wants us to be.  We all know it is much wiser to do what God wants, but our flesh often wins over and we slip the customs and behaviors of this world into our daily lifestyle.  We do what we shouldn’t do, go where we shouldn’t go and say things we shouldn’t say.  We just blend right in and we copy the world’s version of “Cool”.

Friends, we are called to not copy the “cool” of this world, but instead being transformed and set apart.  We cannot just mimic what the world does because it’s more convenient to fit in.  God wants our lives to be dramatically different than the world.  Our lives need to look totally separate from the rest of the world. 

As much as I like the copy and paste feature of computers and it brings much efficiency to my daily work, this should never flow into my walk with God as I’m so often tempted to just copy and paste the worldly values and fit in. 

Don’t copy “cool”.  Instead, be transformed and renewed. 

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

Running With A Purpose

“Running With A Purpose”

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NLT

All athletes are disciplined in their training.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.  Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 

This past Sunday in our small group Bible study, we were discussing how we need to be missional in life and get things done instead of just talking about doing them.  It was a powerful lesson we all took in and as we read this passage, I was focused on the part of ”So I run with purpose in every step”.  I thought about all the things I do each and every day and why I do them. 

I thought about all I do each day from the time I get up in the morning to the time I lay down to go to bed at night.  What is my purpose behind each thing I do and each place I go?  Am I living to just get the day of work over with to get home to be with my family?  Don’t get me wrong that it’s great to look forward to being home with my family each night.  But, there’s more to each day of life.  Whether I am at work, at home with my family or going somewhere, I am called to live and run with a purpose. 

I used to be a cross-country and track runner and I remember how focused I was on doing the best I could.  I remember the pain I often went to in order to get my body in shape.  It was so challenging, but I was determined to stay in shape so that I could run my best.  I needed to stay determined and committed so that I could run the best I could.  I ran with a purpose to do my best and achieve my best. 

Friends, this is why we need to train each and every day to be the best God wants us to be.  We are living and running each day from this to that.  Do we ever really stop to consider what we are doing and why we are doing it?  I sure hope so.  And, if we’re not….we need to START! 

I want to be missional in my life to not just live each day in a normal routine.  I want to be the best God has asked me to be and take advantage of every opportunity to do what He has called me to do. 

Are you and I living and running with a purpose?

Thursday, November 4, 2021

The Greatest Imitation

“The Greatest Imitation”

Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.  He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

I’ve always been impressed when I hear people try to imitate an actor or actress.  Some people I’ve heard are pretty good at it, while others really need some work!  I’ve watched many comedians throughout the years imitate different people and some of the imitations are mind-blowing!  It’s amazing when your jaw drops as you say, “Wow, that is a great impression!”  I’ve also heard different friends, family members and others who have tried impersonating someone else and it sounded very genuine!

I think we all enjoy hearing someone do a great impression of someone else.  It’s quite entertaining to hear these impressions and often times we want them to keep going and going to keep us laughing!  So often we or other people put much effort into imitating others and getting that talent down just because it’s so impressive.

The other day, when I read over this passage as I have so many times, it reminded me of how it is so important to imitate God.  It’s quite funny to witness good impersonations and gives us a good laugh, but I can’t help but think about our effort in imitating God.  How much effort do we actually put into imitating what God wants us to do? 

The greatest imitation we could ever put on is to do exactly what God wants us to do.  He calls us to be just like Him in everything we do.  Think about the first part of this passage of Paul’s words, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do”.  Doesn’t that say it all???  Everywhere we go, everyone we talk to and whatever we do, we are called to imitate God.  When we do this, we will live a life filled with His love.  That is exactly what God calls us to do. 

That is the greatest imitation!