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- Apr 25, 2006
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Faithful friend (1)
'Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world ...' Romans 12:2
How do your morals compare to your mates'? Everyone does a bit of supermarket grazing (eating in the aisles with no intention of paying at the till). Do you? Everybody plays gossip pass-the-parcel with the new juicy lowdown on the pregnant year 10. Do you? Everybody is creative with the truth if it means getting out of that detention. Are you? You're supposed to be standing up for God by standing out from the crowd aren't you? 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
Being the 'Bible Basher' in your crowd is going to be a challenge and an opportunity, especially when you feel all by yourself. The challenge comes when your faith and your friends aren't mixing. When comedy Dave is in chortle heaven making wise cracks at the expense of the school geek, the temptation is to laugh along. However your faith reminds you, 'Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus' (Colossians 3:17 NLT). Would Jesus be making bodily function jokes? Nope. The opportunity comes in how you handle the situation. If you become known for being a good laugh, without laughing at the expense of others, people will notice there's something different about you. How will you gain respect with your mates? By respecting God and respecting others
written by Bob Gass
'Don't copy the behaviour and customs of this world ...' Romans 12:2
How do your morals compare to your mates'? Everyone does a bit of supermarket grazing (eating in the aisles with no intention of paying at the till). Do you? Everybody plays gossip pass-the-parcel with the new juicy lowdown on the pregnant year 10. Do you? Everybody is creative with the truth if it means getting out of that detention. Are you? You're supposed to be standing up for God by standing out from the crowd aren't you? 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!' (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
Being the 'Bible Basher' in your crowd is going to be a challenge and an opportunity, especially when you feel all by yourself. The challenge comes when your faith and your friends aren't mixing. When comedy Dave is in chortle heaven making wise cracks at the expense of the school geek, the temptation is to laugh along. However your faith reminds you, 'Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus' (Colossians 3:17 NLT). Would Jesus be making bodily function jokes? Nope. The opportunity comes in how you handle the situation. If you become known for being a good laugh, without laughing at the expense of others, people will notice there's something different about you. How will you gain respect with your mates? By respecting God and respecting others
written by Bob Gass
