PATTERN YOUR LIFE AFTER MINE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
Philippians 3:17-18 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
This is one of the great truths I learned early in life: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future!”
The longer I have lived the truer this statement has become. I have watched this play out in so many people’s lives. If your closest friends are divorced, there is a good chance you will get a divorce. If your closest friends don’t attend church on a regular basis, there is a good chance you will not attend church on a regular basis. If your closest friends drink too much, there is a good chance you will drink too much.
Paul understood this principle two thousand years ago. He challenged his readers to “pattern your lives after mine.” This was not a statement of pride or arrogance. Paul was simply wanting them to choose him as their model of serving Jesus. Paul understood “there are many whose conduct show that they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.”
We must make daily decisions of who or what will get our attention. In our present culture there are times when social media or the news media shape our thinking. Every Sunday morning, I get a message from my phone telling me how much screen time I have had that week and what apps I spent the most time on. It is interesting this always pops up while I’m in church.
It is almost like I’m being reminded of how much time I spent on social media and news media compared to how much time I spent in worship and with the Word.
Who, or what, is shaping your thinking?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to choose my friends wisely. Help me to allow You to direct the usage of my time.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
Lord , I want everyone to know that I am a follower of Christ. My behavior should reflect that.
I want to have godly examples in my life and I want to be a godly example to others.
God , help me to lean into you & to always seek you first , no matter what I do . Help me to choose wise friends . Holy Spirit be my guide and help me to use my time wisely.