Better Than Most

What do you think? What is the standard by which we live? Do we compare ourselves to the world and those around us, or do we compare ourselves to the holiness of God?

In Isaiah, the problem was that God called His people to be holy - or set apart for Him. However, as they mingled with the other people in the world, they lost their influence and instead gave in to the influence of others. Over time, they started buying into the other cultures, slowly straying away from the One, True God - the Holy One of Israel (as He is often called in Isaiah). They didn't completely abandon Him, but they became a "whore" (Is 1:21), giving themselves to false gods along with the One, True God.

What are your thoughts about our culture today - especially in the United States? What are some of the ways you think we might have commited the same sin as Israel?

As we think about this, I pray that God will grab hold of our hearts, draw us back to Him alone and set us apart to live for His Glory!

Lord, transform us so that we influence everything we touch - help us to be SALT and LIGHT to this world!

Posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 by Jonathan Goeke

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5 comments (Add your own)

1. SpeedyJeff wrote:: How do we reconcile influencing everything we touch if we are not to be mingling with the other people in the world?
February 3, 2010 @ 2:56 PM
2. PJ wrote:: Good question, SJ! I hope I addressed that a little in the comment in yesterday's blog.

We are supposed to be right there with the rest of the world - not out in the desert. However, we are supposed to do that while maintaining our holiness, or our "set-apartness". It's the HUGE challenge of being in the world but not OF the world.

We are here - and we are called to be SALT and LIGHT to the world - so obviously God doesn't want us to withdraw from the world. But His desire is that as we enter into the world, we would be the SALT - in other words, that we would be the ones who influence the rest of the world, not those which are being influenced by the rest of the world.

It isn't easy - but it is possible - and I believe God's desire! Blessings to you today as you live as His salt and light!
February 3, 2010 @ 3:05 PM
3. Gayle Chandler wrote:: As a crucified servant of God with Christ, the power of the resurrection is in me. My crucifixion is a daily deal and can, if not prayed to be bound and get out, will confuse me. The author of peace even in difficult circumstances is Jesus Christ. If I am to be called a follower of His and say He is my Lord, I must submit humbly and pray for whoever and whatever is going against me/us. We are to show the light, the truth and the way to the lost, in love and kindness, prayerfully. That is how I understand it. Is that how you guys see it? Peace forever.....
February 3, 2010 @ 11:41 PM
4. Chris wrote:: This makes me think of "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." If we're maintaining our close tie to Jesus through prayer, study, meditation, fasting, worship, etc., then He continues to pour His life into us, and we are altered by Him and not the world, even as we rub shoulders with the world.

I think we also have to be careful not to slip into an unloving "us vs. them" mentality about the world. We are called not to be of the fallen world, but also "for God so loved the WORLD."

Lastly, comparing ourselves to others, Francis Chan said something a long time ago that really sticks with me: "It's easy to look like a spiritual giant when you live in a land of spiritual midgets."
February 4, 2010 @ 9:42 AM
5. Stephanie wrote:: A struggle I have is comparing myself to others especially fellow believers.I know I am so very guilty sometimes of not doing or doing more based on the actions of others around me. That I do let others influence my actions and sometimes thoughts. Instead of turning toward him to find out exactly where HE wants me to be and doing for him. I am desperately working on adjusting my focus upward. I know I am so very guilty sometimes of not doing or doing more based on the actions of others around me.
February 4, 2010 @ 11:42 AM

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