PRESSURE

I want to settle an apparent ongoing argument in our culture for this devotion today. I know we speak and reference the bible dividing it into old and new testaments but it's really one testament. It all speaks to God's plan of redemption for mankind through Jesus Christ and His protocols for our existence on earth and beyond. In saying this all scripture is God breathed and living.  To continue...It seems as if everywhere I go I'm faced with a question of culture.  I often hear people say that Christians should change and adapt to the culture to reach the culture. But... I've learned I don't have to do what you do, to know what you know. I don't have to stick my hand in fire to know that it burns. Now if we're talking about a good restaurant or fashion then that's something in culture I may consider doing.  But in choosing how I live and conduct my life that's simply suicide. And...who ever thought of that ...to lead that army of rebellion against our God....didn't care about your soul or your destiny. Now, I believe Jesus engaged with culture while leaving us a record on how to influence culture. And if we look at the design of the pattern Jesus left... the culture never changed Jesus. The fact of suggesting that we change who we are once we enter the kingdom of God means we are foolishly suggesting God was wrong about how He created us and redemption. We are foolishly suggesting that Jesus dying for our sins was amistake. But you know...it seems as if this culture insists on continuously calling God wrong... while their lifestyle is proving God right. Another way to put it is this...whatever you put above what GOD KNOWS is right about your life...is your idol and your god. And it's idolatry. When we continue to yield to the evil and unjust peer pressure...in life, in culture, and against others...make no mistake...the same evil lives in you. And honestly my friend this is a result of unequally yoked relationships that are sent to cause you to forfeit your future. An example? The Children of Israel. Anytime they mixed with any other peoples in the land it caused them to sin and therefore that's the reason for their bondage. In other words, it's a trade. You are trading away. Each day we all step onto trading floors. When we obey our idols instead of God we trade away something in our future... and when we do this we then wonder why we can never get to destiny...my friend maybe it's because you allowed a thief to steal your destiny over time and replace it  with their own version of your destiny for you...see friends can author your life away from GOD ...and make it into their GOOD and then you think it's GOD but its not...your now and your future will speak to your demise if you don't change coarse. So you see pressure comes to test you to see if you still believe God...or...are your friends and peers, who have now authored their own version of your destiny, still your idols and in control? Today is a great day to do what God told you to do...and not what PEOPLE told you God said. I'm praying for you that you reach your promise. Now it's time to step into the light!