Sunday, November 30, 2014

Content in an Ungodly World


Do you ever wonder what type of influence you have on the people around you?  Would you consider yourself to be someone who has a godly influence on your family, friends, and co-workers?  When we study the life of Lot, we see a man who did not have a godly influence on those around him.  2 Peter 2:7 reveals that Lot was a righteous man, but when we study his life we see that his testimony in the city of Sodom meant nothing to the people.  Prayerfully ask God to reveal to you if you have a godly testimony to those in your realm of influence. 

In Genesis 13:10-11, we notice Lot making a decision that had detrimental effects toward his family.  He decided to move his family near Sodom, a city that was known for its wickedness - its sin.  Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt.  (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)  So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east.  The two men parted company.  Life presents us with a series of choices.  Our choices affect many and can reach into the future.  Prayerfully seek God’s direction when making choices.  Even though the choices look promising in the moment, the future consequence can be devastating. 

Lot had an opportunity to be a godly voice in this wicked city.  In Genesis 19:1, we see Lot sitting in the gateway of the city.  The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city – Genesis 19:1.  The ones who sat in the gateway of the cities were judges.  Lot not only chose to move to Sodom, but once there he got into politics.  He had an opportunity to be a godly influence but Scripture reveals when the time of destruction and judgment had come upon Sodom, those near and dear to him did not take him seriously.  Genesis 19:14 – So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters.  He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!”  But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.  Lot lived so long among the wicked and sinful in Sodom and was so content among the ungodly people; he was no longer a believable witness for God.  Lot had allowed his environment to shape him instead of shaping his environment.  Are you shaping and influencing your environment in a godly way or is your environment shaping you? 

Lot blended in and became one of the crowd and when he finally made a stand, nobody listened.  For us to make a difference and a godly influence in our sphere of influence, we have to choose to be different in our faith and our conduct.  We will never be able to conform to the world’s standards and make a godly influence.  Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Lot chose to conform to his environment.  Let’s prayerfully seek our LORD and ask Him to empower us and guide us to be a godly, spiritual influence in our environment. 

We live in a world filled with sin.  We must guard ourselves that we do not become accepting of the sin that is in our world.  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it – Proverbs 4:23. 

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to be a godly influence in our sphere of influence.  Help us to recognize sin and understand we cannot flirt with sin.  Father, we recognize that You have called us to be a godly light in this lost and dying world.  Provide us with the power and strength to stand strong.  In Jesus Name I Pray…..Amen.

 

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