IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD

When the prophet Elijah appeared on the scene there had been sixty years of bloodshed, intrigue, immorality and idolatry in the nation of Israel. When Ahab came to the throne the Bible says that he was worse than the kings who came before him. How bad where things? The altars of the Lord God had been dismantled. His prophets were in hiding. His worshippers were a mere handful, scattered and intimidated into silence by the scope of the evil all around them. The believers in God had been so silenced that their existence was known only to God. And behind all of this evil was a diabolical duo – King Ahab and his Queen, Jezebel.

In America today we are living in what has been described as a post-Christian era. It is post-Christian not because there are no longer any Christians living in this country. There are probably more Christians than there ever has been, but it’s post-Christian in the sense that the Christian faith no longer plays a major role in shaping the values and morals of our society or in how we relate to one another.

The reality of this forces us to face some tough questions: Who or what is my God? Do I claim faith in the God of the Bible, but then live my life like I don’t really believe Him?

Is God really God in my life from the standpoint of what I treasure, what my attitudes are, what my priorities are, and what determines my behavior? What is really important to me? How committed am I to my relationship with God?

If you’re a believer in the Lord God here are some things we can do to live out a genuine faith:

• Decide to let God be God of everything in your life.
Rom.6:13 (NLT) Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.

• Ask God to use you for His great purpose through your life.
Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Study the Bible thoroughly and be strengthened in the truth of one God.
2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

• Be courageous enough to identify with Jesus always.
Prov. 28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.