You may have had this experience: you hear the gospel, respond in your heart, and give your life to Jesus Christ. Over the weeks and months that follow you find yourself reading the Bible, praying, going to church, and having a relationship with God. Your life begins to change - your character, your words, and your actions. You no longer want to do the things you used to - partying, swearing - whatever. You are different on the inside and you know it.
The problem is - your friends know you have changed too. They didn't respond to the gospel like you did and they are just the same as they always were. But they want you to be just the same as them and they pressure you to do the things you used to do and when you tell them you don't want to anymore they get angry.
Believe it or not, the Apostle Peter wrote about this in his 1st letter:
1 Peter 4:4 "With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you..."
So what's the answer? Certainly its not to just go with them and do the things you now know do not bring glory to God. The answer is to be who you are now and realize the reality that surrounds you both. Listen to how verse 4 ends:
"...but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
We must all account for what we have one. Be thankful that Jesus cleansed your account of sin so that you have a clean record. And pray that their hearts will be open to the same gospel that changed you.
Pastor Tom
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment