2006-11-14 - To Be or Not To Be

That is indeed the question. The world is full of things for us to be. We can be popular and live the good life that everyone else will envy. We can be all that we are supposed to be if we just wear the right clothes, drink the right things, and drive the right cars. However, this view of what we can be is a bit shortsighted. The commercials that promote this way of life are only 30 seconds because if they lasted a season we'd see what lay down the road - the bills, the hangovers, the failed relations and whatever else might be there.

That is why we're told not to conform to the world's ways.

Romans 12:2 - 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.

God not only tells us what not to imitate but also gives us a better pattern to follow.

Philippians 3:8,10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

God loves us so much that he is not content just to give us a pattern and hope we will follow it. He will in fact nudge us to conform. He will guide us and mold us into the image he has planned for us. The almost funny part is that he used any thing and everything including the failed experiences with the world's ways to do that.

Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

All things work for good to them that love God. And what is that good? To be conformed to the image of His son. So as you face whatever good or bad is in your life today, praise God because he can use it to make you like Jesus

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted

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