Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Facepalm (05/15/14)
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TITLE: Flee All Appearance of Evil | Previous Challenge Entry
By Dee Kyalo
05/21/14 -
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Back in the day there was absolute difference between good and evil. It was simple to spot any Christian living on the fence but today it’s a little confusing. As long as something makes one happy, it seems like we are less concerned about anything else.
We say, “I don’t care what people think about me, God knows my heart.” This statement sounds alright but when you think about it, God wants us to care about how we portray ourselves. That is why we are set apart to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16 NIV).
Not only are we instructed to flee from that which is evil, we flee also from that which appears to be evil. For instance, a man and a woman who are not married to each other should not be seen in each other’s company very frequently because someone may think that they are having a romantic relationship.
Elaine shared an interesting story and her experience helped me gain a better understanding of how appearance of evil can mean so little to one person but spell out something different to others.
“When I was younger, single and working in the corporate world, I met friend at church who used to give me a ride to work every day. Seeing as I had no car of my own at the time, I considered it as God’s favor working in my life. I didn’t have to use public transport! Hallelujah! This made me very happy,” she said smiling.
“I probably would have felt the same,” I supposed.
Her smile was short lived as she continued narrating. “This went on for quite a while until one day when a colleague asked me a very surprising question, “When are you planning to have a baby?””
Slightly amused, I wondered why his question had surprised her.
Elaine must have read my mind because in response to my unsaid thoughts, she said, “How could I plan for a baby before marriage? That was my question to him,” she paused for a moment and added, “My faith meant the world to me even back then.”
As I listened to her, I learned that the discussion that had ensued revealed that, at the time, Elaine’s Christianity was as a stumbling block to others (1 Corinthians 8:9 ESV).
“Why are there Christians that are having sex without being married?” Her colleague posed.
Although Elaine’s case was simply a ride to and from work and there was no dating going on she couldn’t give a convincing explanation to her colleague; and this was definitely a facepalm moment in her life as a Believer. She was unable to defend herself or her faith and who knows how many people she unknowingly led away from Christ?
While we understand that God looks at the heart we need to realize that people do look at the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). Evil and its appearance will cause embarrassment to any individual; before God or before men or before them both, therefore, we must keep aloof from it in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.
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I loved this message and resounding truth:
We say, “I don’t care what people think about me, God knows my heart.” This statement sounds alright but when you think about it, God wants us to care about how we portray ourselves. That is why we are set apart to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16)
Excellent job here.
God bless~