Tuesday; May 25

When the early church began to influence the world, there were basically two types of people who made up the unified body of Christ. One of the groups came out of Judaism. They were a monotheistic people who had lived by many of the moral principles that would be incorporated into the Christian church. While some of their thought-processes needed to be adjusted to accept the coming of the Messiah, their transition was probably pretty smooth. The others came out of the Gentile people, many of whom had grown up in the pagan Roman world. They had grown up in a poly-theistic society in the midst of the worship of Caesar as emperor and deity. These folks probably had a much different adjustment process, but may have more easily understood the call to be sanctified from the world.

As the Apostle Peter wrote to the early church he observed, “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.” (I Peter 4:3). As Peter challenged the early believers, he advised that that they were different than the society around them. Those who came out of a God-fearing background were challenged to remain pure while those who had converted from heathenism, were called to be different. No matter which side they came from, they had a common calling.

As we read these words centuries later, they remind us that God’s people are special: holy and unique. We cannot take on the nature of the world, nor can we regress back into our old ways. God’s people are expected rise above the base nature of the world. When we do, we reserve for ourselves a special life that will consist of all the best that God has to offer.

Think About It!

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