A preacher friend of mine once said “you can gently love someone in to hell.” While I agree with the sentiment, I think I will modify it: “you can love others’ opinions of you more than their eternal destination.” This got me thinking: the World is not your friend. You are not obligated to go along with its schemes. You ARE required to love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them, and seek the good of those around you. The good is not complying with evil or wickedness, love is not staying silent when people are literally embracing hell. Good is helping people in need (daily needs and necessities), and love is speaking truth, even if it hurts. Sin is the enemy of Christ, and therefore the enemy of His followers. We cannot follow Jesus and ignore sin.
Loved ones, you were not saved to be silent. You were not saved to be hidden. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”-Matthew 5:14-16
Let your light shine. Do not hide who you are, do not hide your faith, do not comply with wickedness. instead stand firm in the faith. Stand for what is good. Speak boldly in spite of the personal consequences Seek the welfare of those around you, especially concerning their eternal destination. You were not saved to be hidden. You are a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and that same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead lives in you. Abide in Christ and His word. Be led by the Spirit. Stand firm in this wicked generation. You were made a light for such a time as this.
Romans 12
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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