We are expected to do what is required of us. There is little wiggle room for us to offer excuses or to justify ourselves when we fail to do the basics.

But is merely fulfilling our duties enough?

Jesus taught that our service to God must go above and beyond what we are commanded: “‘So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do'”‘(Luke 17:10). Jesus also said, “‘And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two'” (Matthew 5:41).

Applying these principles takes extra effort on our part.

For example, consider this command given to Christians by Jesus: “‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you'” (Matthew 5:44).

This kind of action requires a much different approach than our normal inclinations: “‘For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?'” (Matthew 5:46-47).

Loving others in a godly fashion will take extra effort on our part–especially in a time “‘…when the love of many will grow cold'” (Matthew 24:12).

One area in which we can endeavor to become truly profitable servants of God is to love others, as He loves us. We need, more than ever before, to be examples of brotherly and godly love in the extraordinary way that Jesus loves us: “‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another'” (John 13:34-35; compare John 15:12).

Christ desires that the same love which God had and has for Jesus, the Son of God, would be in His disciples. Notice that Christ prayed to God the Father: “‘… that the love with which You loved Me may be in them'” (John 17:26).

Since we have been given these commands, let’s endeavor to do them in ways that go over and above what we might otherwise be satisfied with–let’s make the extra efforts needed to become profitable servants of God!

It seems that men at all times believed that they were living in the “last days.”

The early apostles thought for a while that Christ would return during their lifetime. When the Vandals sacked Rome in the mid-fifth century, many believed the end of the world had arrived. In the late ninth century, the fall of the last Carolingians and of the Roman Empire that Charles the Great had restored brought confirmation for some of a looming end. When Otto III was crowned emperor in 996, many felt that the end would come during his reign, apparently in 1,000 A.D. Martin Luther believed he was living in the last days. One of his followers, Michael Stiefel, computed the Day of Judgment for 8:00 a.m. on October 9, 1533.

The belief in Christ’s imminent return was so strong under Oliver Cromwell, that the English government made it a criminal offense, after Cromwell was gone, to speculate publicly about the Second Coming. Isaac Newton believed that Christ’s return would occur by the end of the 17th century. William Miller predicted that Christ would return in 1844. Many Germans believed that the Last Judgment would occur in 1890, and Charles Russell claimed it would occur in 1914, then in 1918, and then in 1925. His followers and others predicted it would occur in 1975. Islamic numerologists calculated that the end of the world would come in 2001.

Why, then, would today be any different? Can we be sure that the “end time” has indeed come upon us? If so, what does this mean for us?

Of course, we are not to set dates or even SUGGEST dates for Christ’s return. The Bible tells us that only the Father knows the exact day and hour of the Second Coming (Matthew 24:36). Nevertheless, God gave us many prophecies which must be fulfilled just prior to Christ’s return, and which indicate that the time is near (compare Matthew 24:32-33).

Among many other criteria, Christ referred to events that would give rise to religious deception, national and international wars, terrorism, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, famines, pestilences and pandemics. But one might respond: Man has witnessed these phenomena many times before. This is true, but Christ gave us additional end-time prophecies which must be understood in conjunction with those we just mentioned. And many of those prophecies were never fulfilled in prior generations, nor could they have been!

For instance, think of the tenth and LAST military, economic, political and religious revival of the ancient Roman Empire in Europe which is developing now–and recognize the fact that nine prior revivals have already occurred. This FINAL and LAST revival began its course in 1957, with the Treaty of Rome, which “explicitly linked the Common Market with the ancient Roman Empire” (Eugen Weber, Apocalypses, page 204, copyright 1999).

Consider the coming “Great Tribulation”–a time unparalleled in scope and magnitude in human history–a time when human annihilation would be made possible through the use of horrific weapons of mass destruction–weapons that did not even exist until recently.

Realize the likelihood of a coming war in the Middle East, involving and directed against the state of Israel, and the invasion of the Holy Land through EUROPEAN armies to suppress Jewish sacrifices; think of the downfall of the United States and other English-speaking nations, be it economically, politically and even militarily; and consider the important fact that the TRUE gospel of the KINGDOM of God is being preached in ALL THE WORLD as a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14)–something which was hardly possible before the invention of the highly sophisticated technical means of our 20th and 21th centuries.

Add to this the rotten and ungodly societies which we are living in today. James 5:1-3 speaks of unscrupulous rich people, taking advantage of the poor, who “have heaped up treasure in the last day.” True, past generations lamented about the deterioration of the society in their times, but how much worse can it really get, today? We are told that the last days will be as the days of Noah, just before the Flood came and took them all away!

How accurate is Paul’s description of the people in our “perilous” times, as prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1-5! Notice: “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money… proud, blasphemers… unthankful… unloving, unforgiving, slanderers… headstrong… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…” Headstrong and proud scientists and would-be “intellectuals” scream out their belief in the myth of the Theory of Evolution and become ANGRY and HATEFUL when someone dares to question their ungodly postulations.

What about Peter’s description of the prevailing attitude of Bible-defying people in the last days? Here is his prophecy, in 2 Peter 3:3: “… scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming…?'”

We are warned that even in the Church of God, these kinds of people would arise in the last days. Jude said in verses 18-19 that “there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” 1 John 2:18-19 added that many antichrists would come in the last hour who “went out from us, but they were not of us.” How many seemingly true Christians have left the Body of Christ in recent years, following idle tales and fables of human imaginations and philosophies!

One point of extreme importance is Christ’s warning and admonition, as recorded in Matthew 10:22 and 24:13: “But he who endures to the END shall be saved.” Whether you apply this to the end of this evil world or age, or whether you look at this as the end of your personal life–you must endure until that end comes. Many did not endure. They gave up. They did not “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6; compare Hebrews 3:14; 6:11). They returned to the world and the worldly ways of life from which God had delivered them.

We are not called to change the WORLD now–but rather, to COME OUT of this world and allow God to change US. But the time will come when we WILL BE given opportunity to help bring about real and true change in the world TOMORROW–to show mankind a better way of life. Christ tells us in Revelation 2:26: “But he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.” 

When you understand that “the end of all things is at hand,” you need to “be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins'” (1 Peter 4:7-8).

We must endure to the end–never giving up–never returning to this world which awaits its soon-coming destruction. The realization that we ARE living today in the last days–the days of the end–must be of tremendous meaning and importance for us. It must motivate us to change and purify ourselves (1 John 3:1-3). It must motivate us to continue and persevere (Luke 21:28)–knowing that the Lord is “at hand” (Philippians 4:5), and that He is “coming quickly… to give everyone according to his work” (Revelation 22:12).

Actually, the way we normally say or hear it said is, “If I were you…” What follows is usually advice for us—from others—to choose wisely or to avoid making a stupid or even dangerous mistake.

From the standpoint of helping us, God puts it this way: “‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!’” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Before we do or say something, are we able to consider the counsel available to us? To do so in a way that is beneficial, we must learn to govern ourselves by God’s wisdom—to think spiritually (compare 1 Corinthians 2:10-16). That perfect knowledge is available through God’s written Word and by having the same approach to life as that of Jesus Christ (compare Philippians 2:5). This is possible because we have the gift of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in us (compare John 14:23; Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Galatians 4:6; Philippians 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:13).

The purpose for God making available His Holy Spirit is for us to learn to think as His Son thinks, and we are taught to be “…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5); and, to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Learning to think in a Godly fashion is a tremendous battle. The contrast between our ways and God’s could not be more starkly opposite:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:5-7).

The next time—and every time—we are faced with choosing our own way, that is, to think in terms of, “if I were me,” let’s remember the true spiritual approach of Jesus Christ, “‘… not as I will, but as You will'” (Matthew 26:39).

Some time ago, I heard a very senior UK politician say that he supported marriage and the family. Because of the erosion of these basic institutions through legislation, tax laws and increasingly immoral behavior, I was really pleased to hear him be so supportive – until his next utterance. He continued that he supported marriage between a man and a woman, a man and a man and a woman and a woman! And this was from someone with aspirations to govern the country at the highest level.  

Is it any wonder, therefore, that with such ignorance in high places, Godly morality is shunned and ignored by those in power and by those who follow these leaders? In the ancient nation of Israel, the king was to “write for himself a copy of the law [of God] in a book” (compare Deuteronomy 17:18). The reason for this is given in the following verse: “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes…”  

Today, our leaders and rulers have little or no knowledge of the law and the way of God; so much so, that they ignore the valuable wisdom that is so readily available. Instead, they develop their own ideas which often have little or no biblical foundation whatsoever. This is yet another case of doing what is right in their own eyes (compare Judges 17:6; 21:25). If our leaders had “written for themselves a copy of the book of the law”–or even just read it–they would know that marriage is only between a man and a woman and not any other combination that emanates from the mind of man.  They would also not implement legislation that contradicts clear Bible teaching and which requires that in case of a conflict, the law of the land always takes legal precedence over God’s Word.

The UK government continually boasts of the highest educational standards in our history, with more students obtaining degrees than ever before.   But alongside that is, perhaps, the greatest ignorance that we have ever had in terms of Godly knowledge and understanding.

Ignorance in high places has seeped right down through every strata of society, so that the knowledge of God and His way is little known or understood, and that is a very dangerous position to be in. Politicians always seem to think that they have all the answers.  

In truth, only God has!

I have often thought about what it took to be a part of the early church in the days when your life could have been required of you just for being a Christian. What kind of person did it take to say that they were a Christian, as well as continue to act that way in light of all that hung over their head?

I used to be really glad that I did not live at that time.  I was not sure whether I would have been able to keep the faith while so many around me were being martyred. Would I have had the moral quality to continue doing what I was supposed to be doing?

But I then realized that God is going to accomplish His purpose in us no matter when we live. God has His ways of testing us in order to build holy righteous character, and He will continue to do so, until we learn what we need to. Living in this era has its unique set of challenges, each probative in its own way, that can test every fiber of our being.

In retrospect, not to minimize any of those that went before us, staying alive and persevering day after day until the end, may very well be the more difficult task to accomplish. But, we can take comfort in the fact that God, our Father, Who is orchestrating and overseeing our growth, will continue to do so until the end (compare Philippians 1:6). Knowing this also, that if we endure, we will receive the gift with its rewards (compare Matthew 24:13).

There is a vast difference between simply acknowledging someone and being willing to obey him. For instance, let us consider Nebuchadnezzar’s decree which he made after the three young Jewish captives were spared from death in the fiery furnace. We read in Daniel 3:29: “Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

Notice, Nebuchadnezzar fully acknowledged that the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego was the most powerful God, but he fell short of the mark in the sense that he did not obey and serve that God. Even when he was warned in a dream and through Daniel’s subsequent explanation of that dream, he continued to walk in pride and was severely punished as a consequence. There is no indication that Nebuchadnezzar ever forsook his idols and became a true and obedient follower of the Creator God.

Let us also look at what King Darius wrote, as recorded in Daniel 6:25-27, after Daniel was saved from the lions in the lions den: “To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Here again, we find a full acknowledgement that the God of Daniel works signs and wonders and that He is able to deliver from danger, but we do not find in the Bible, nor in history, that King Darius began to obey and serve that God Whom he acknowledged. 

What does James tell us about acknowledgement of and belief in the existence of the true God? James 2:19 says: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Satan and the demons acknowledge and believe in the true God, but they are not about to serve and obey Him. Knowing the righteous judgment of God for disobedience, they tremble. They know that belief in God and acknowledgement of His existence are not enough–but they are unwilling to obey Him.

Notice Peter’s words, as recorded in Acts 5:32: “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit [which] God has given to those who obey Him.” If God gives His Holy Sprit only to those who obey God, then He also withholds it from those who disobey Him. Obedience is a requirement for salvation.

Look at what God inspired Samuel to say about the importance of obedience, in 1 Samuel 15:22-23: “So Samuel said: ‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.'”

As faithful servants of God, we must not just acknowledge God and believe in His existence, but we must willingly obey Him. Notice that by faith Abraham obeyed (Hebrews 11:8). That is why we read in Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, AND that He is a REWARDER of those who diligently seek Him.”

Peter told the churches in Asia, and by extension all of us, that we ought to be clothed with humility and that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). My dictionary describes “humility” as the “absence of pride or arrogance; meekness and lowliness; an act of submission or humble courtesy; not proud.” So the common denominator is modesty and being submissive. Can we honestly attribute those qualities to ourselves?

Paul, in speaking to the church at Colosse, urged the brethren “…as the elect of God holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering…” (Colossians 3:12).

A humble person is a teachable person. David alludes to that in Psalm 25. A state of humility precludes a state of haughtiness and self-esteem. It seeks not to glorify itself. Neither should we. God looks to the teachable–those who would exhibit an attitude of humility by being receptive to His Word.

Today worldly pride comes in the form of an infamous trinity of what I call the “Me, Myself & I” syndrome–completely devoid of a sense of humility. You’ve no doubt met people like that. They pat themselves on the back and have no qualms about telling you directly or obliquely how clever or important they are. And they tend to put you off, don’t they? You can generally see right through them. I used to joke with friends by telling them that I am so humble that it makes me ill even to think about it! A minister, in one of his sermons on the subject of humility, quipped, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect!”

Humility is perhaps the greatest attribute—the noblest quality—that characteristic that God looks for in a true Christian, aside from obedience—and even there, obedience is embedded within and part of the quality of humility. The two go hand-in-hand. The humble mind, the mind that is obedient to God’s Ways and His Laws, is the mind—the person—on whom God can rely—and a person to whom a great reward will be given. In that light, the quality of humility takes on an immense degree of importance.

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered in the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:3). Note that this inspired verse associates humility with physical protection from God’s anger–including protection at the time of the prophesied events to come upon the world in the not-too-distant future.

In the “Observer” newspaper (UK) back in April of 1950, a woman by the name of Edith Sitwell pleaded: “I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty… but I am too busy thinking about myself.” Modesty didn’t sit well with her! Someone noted of Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman, novelist and Prime Minister twice in the latter 1800s, that “Every day when he looked into the mirror and gave himself the last touch of vanity, he offered his grateful thanks to Providence that his family was not unworthy of him!”

Paul tells us: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others as better than himself” (Philippians 2:3). Do we do that? If so, we will have no reason to feel exalted or self-important. Abraham was that sort of person. So were Moses and David and Daniel and many of the other biblical personalities, including, of course, Jesus Christ Himself, as THE example of exhibiting true humility. Job–at first a self-righteous man–was eventually brought down to size and severely humbled by the realization of what he did not know.

The key to the level of stature we could ever hope to achieve in God’s Kingdom is a humble submissive mind—a state of humility—being spiritually unleavened without any pride and self-righteousness. We must avoid that “Me, Myself & I” attitude. Perhaps all of us have, at one time or another, eaten humble pie when we were confronted with embarrassment of being wrong about something. There are those, however, who seem to know it all and who let you know they know it all. You’ve met them. But if they were to match their teensy-weensy bucket of personal knowledge with the total fund of worldly knowledge… well, as they say in New York City in that distinctive Brooklyn accent: “You don’ know nothin’, buddy!! Nut’n!”

We need to be familiar with the latter part of Isaiah 66:2, where God is saying: “…on this one will I look, on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit and who trembles at My word.”

Although it is not an easy-to-come-by attribute in today’s world of pride and arrogance, it is a fundamental, paramount quality that true Christians must embrace if they hope to “make it into the Kingdom.” There is certainly a case for all of us to practice humility and to do so consciously and consistently, through Christ’s help. For James 4:10 tells us: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and [then] He will lift you up.”

Measured against the sweeping scope of time, our few years on the earth might seem almost trivial. We live physical lives, and our days are of a limited nature.

Yet, our calling from God offers us the opportunity to inherit eternal life–an unending existence that will transcend all time forever and ever.

Is what we accomplish each day done with this big picture in mind? Or do we tend to overlook the literally awesome and unparalleled opportunities that are in store for us? Are we mindful that we are among those who are to endure to the end and who are to continue to overcome sin? Are we replacing our own carnal nature with the very mind of Jesus Christ?

None of these challenges are inconsequential! These are the really big things of our calling!

God doesn’t overlook His own ultimate purposes, and He continually encourages us to view our life now with the view of life with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, in Their Kingdom. Paul had this kind of perspective when he stated: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

We also have this very personal perspective from God:

“For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones'” (Isaiah 57:15).

In all that we do, let’s not overlook the big things God has set before us–He certainly doesn’t!

As I am writing this editorial during the Passover week, I am reflecting on the tremendous sacrifice which God the Father and Jesus Christ gave for us and, potentially, for all of mankind. As an aside, this week parallels the crucifixion week in 31 A.D.: Passover eve this year and in 31 A.D. fell on Tuesday evening; Christ was beaten and killed on a Wednesday; He was placed in the grave Wednesday evening, at sunset; and He rose three days and three nights later, on Saturday evening, at sunset.

Christ came in the flesh: He–the glorious God being who always existed, since all eternity–changed into flesh, became flesh, WAS flesh, so that He could overcome SIN in the flesh, and so that He could DIE and pay through His death the penalty for man’s sins–which is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Everyone who repents and changes; obeys Him; accepts in faith His sacrifice and obtains forgiveness, becomes baptized and receives God’s Holy Spirit; allows Christ to really live in him and to guide him; can look forward to the gift of eternal life which Christ will give him when He returns in glory and power.

God the Father and Jesus Christ brought this supreme sacrifice because they love us. In return, we are called to love God and man. Our love is proven by the fact that we keep God’s commandments–as Christ proved His love for the Father when He obeyed Him (John 14:31, Revised Standard Version).

God’s commandments show us how to love! For example, the first four of the Ten Commandments show us how to love God, and the last six of the Ten Commandments show us how to love our fellow man.

God’s love in us, shed into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5), enables us to obey God. After all, God’s love is defined as keeping God’s commandments of love (1 John 5:3; 2 John 6).

But in living that way–in overcoming sin, in obeying God, in doing what is pleasing in His sight, in manifesting God’s love in our lives–God promises us many tremendous benefits which the world cannot presently receive–and I am not even speaking of our incredible future as born-again glorified God beings in God’s Kingdom. I’m speaking of the here and now. However, we must take God at His Word–we must believe and do what He says.

Notice the following promises:

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them'” (Mark 11:22-24).

“‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16).

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

These are some of the Scriptures setting forth God’s PROMISES. How many try to solve their problems on their own, rather than turning them over to God, in faith, to let Him fight their battles for them? Of course, we must have persistent faith in His mighty power and wisdom, and since this kind of faith is also a gift of the Holy Spirit, we must continue to ask God for His Spirit on a permanent basis (Luke 11:13). But when we do our part, God WILL do His–in His due time.

Are you sick? Do you really appreciate fully that Jesus did not only DIE for us so that we can inherit ETERNAL LIFE in the future, but that He was also tortured and beaten and stricken and smitten so that we can be healed NOW from our sicknesses (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Psalm 103:1-4; but compare also 1 Corinthians 11:27-31)? Take God at His Word and turn yourself over to God and plead with Him for healing of your sicknesses–never doubting that God WILL hear your prayer. Notice James 5:14-18:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

Sometimes we have no answers. We feel that there IS an answer, but we don’t seem to find it. In that case, we need to ask God for His wisdom, believing and not doubting that He will answer our request (James 1:5-8). At other times, there is really nothing we CAN do. Humanly speaking, we might have reached the end of our rope. But God is not limited by our limitations, nor is He limited by natural law (Isaiah 38:8; Joshua 10:12-14). Just pray to God for His solution, and it WILL come.

God GAVE His Son to die for us so that we could LIVE. He GAVE His Son to be tortured for us so that we could be HEALED. God wants us to be prosperous and in good health (3 John 2). He has shown us the way. He offers us His help. Accept His help and take God at His Word.

Many today do not like to conform. They like to be “different,” but so many can fall into a particular non-conformist category that they actually do conform to that particular group or rebellious ideal! Conformity is going along with the group, and peer pressure is a manifestation of this.  

Wikipedia defines peer pressure as follows: “Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to the group.” There are those who may be too shy or retiring or want to avoid ridicule that they conform and give into such pressure. These are problems that we can all face.

But when we become church members, we do become different from the world (James 4:4), because the church is not of the world. It is not whether or not we WANT to be different – we are left with no alternative!

We have just kept the Passover and are now keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread. The world has no idea what this is all about. Had anyone entered our services where we were footwashing, they could have easily wondered what we were doing. And not eating leaven for seven days? Whether we like it or not, our calling makes us different – but we are different, not for personal, egotistical or rebellious reasons – but purely and simply for the right reasons.

We should thank God that we are different; otherwise, we would not be on the road to eternal life in God’s Kingdom. It is a privilege to be different.   We are different because we have a marvelous calling. It is according to God’s instructions, and because we are happy to follow that lead.

Being different–for the right reasons–should suit us just fine!