DAY 119 - THERE ARE A LOT OF VOICES OUT THERE
CONNOR GRIM, YA ASSOCIATE PASTOR & VOLUNTEER TEAM LEAD
“I urge you brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” - Romans 16:17-18
To say we live in a polarizing day and age would be the understatement of the year. Every single person in the world has a passionate thought or idea on how government, society, the economy, and human relationships should work and function and don’t mind sharing those with you, and publicly assaulting you if you dare think differently.
Everyone believes that they have solved the worlds problems and the causes they champion are the most morale, noble, and just in our world. However, Paul warns the church in Rome (one living in a society and culture much like ours) that many of these “voices” in society aren’t as just or noble as they may seem on surface level. Many have their own agendas looking to serve “their own appetites” instead of Jesus, the only one whose Kingdom and agenda is worth serving.
So what are we to do?
Some Christians hide and retreat from the conflict, praying for the day Jesus returns and there’s no more tension. Others get angry at those who are naive or oppose the Kingdom of God, and believe it’s there job to change people’s minds through confrontation and shame. However, I believe the gospel of Jesus offers another way. A better way.
We’ve been shown through the life and ministry of Jesus how to both love and live in the world without adopting all of it’s mindsets, agendas and philosophies. The bible urges us to “renew our minds” with the good news of Jesus, to use it as the filter that we see life, people, and even conflict through. It’s our anchor in times of trouble, our clarity when the messages of the world are cloudy, and our true north when we’ve seemed to loose our way.
Today, you’ll hear hundreds of messages competing for your time and attention. Spend some time with Jesus in prayer and in His word to make sure His message is the loudest voice you hear.