SETTING STANDARDS ~
WITH GOD'S GUIDELINES
Christianity challenges us to be different. It asks us to consider who we are and what God wants us to become. It points to the mercies of God by which He became our Father and we became His children. It asks us to probe the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God as the standard for our life. It begs us to differ from the standards and principles accepted by Godless society, and to let the world squeeze us into its mold, but to let God remold our minds from within.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Romans 12:2
A real change takes place in a person when Jesus is worshipped as Lord and Savior. A silent, steady change takes place in society too when people look to Christ as their life and hope, turn to His character as their pattern, and are inspired with His Spirit as their motivation. Dare to be different from the world!
"Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest." Luke 9:46
The desire to be somebody and to amount to something in life dwells in many human hearts today. All of us desire, at least in some measure, to stand well with other fellow human beings. In the gospels we read about the disciples debating among themselves who was the greatest. At such times Jesus took occasion to tell them what true greatness consists of in the sight of God and what it demands of a person.
God's standard of greatness is different from that of the world. In His sight, a person who has a trusting faith in Jesus, who obeys His laws, and who humbly serves in His Kingdom, is truly great!
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1Peter 1:24,25
People and their ideas flower quickly and fade with time, but God's word is permanent, enduring forever. We are living in a world of unprecedented change. In one generation we have gone from horse and buggy to the space shuttle. There is nothing wrong with progress ~ but we must be careful during these rapid changes occurring today; that we don't drift from our Christian standards. God and His Word, the Bible, never vary. They are our secure anchor during life's storms.
"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14
Sensible people get directions before doing things. They follow guidelines prepared by people who already know the way. They learn from other's information and insight. The best directions for life itself, comes from our Maker, God Himself. Jesus' life is an example for us to imitate. And when we fail to meet His standards, we are forgiven for Jesus' sake. God has set standards for us ~ let us be willing to follow!
Application: By our faith in the Savior, our obedience to the will of God, and our service to the Lord, let us demonstrate our standard of greatness that is the joy of God. Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?"
Today's Devotion: "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." Deuteronomy 4:39
God Bless You All as you follow God's guidelines in your standard of living.
