Character SHOULD Still Count

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields it's fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Psalm 1:1-3

Lately my heart has been grieved by the lack of concern over moral issues among Christians. It seems that everywhere I turn and everything I hear, especially about those who are looked to as role models or leaders, is about the external. They are either good writers, singers, teachers, communicators, actors, etc. or they are the color we prefer (or not the color we don't prefer), have a great accent, or any other standard of attractiveness that draws us to people. There is little to no concern about their internal character or compass. And why should that matter anyway? They're just somebody we watch or listen to. They don't affect our personal life or choices. Or do they? What we allow into ourselves, who we choose to follow, promote or fight for, affects what comes out-and that includes every area of our life.

I want to clarify that I am not talking about culture as a whole, but about those who profess Christ. We cannot expect the world to strive for or uphold the standards of Christ when they don't know Him in the first place. What we need to ask ourselves is this, "Do I look or act any different than the world? Is there anything that sets me apart, not in my words, but in my actions, that would make those who don't know Him want to know what the difference is?" It angers me when a Christian will, out of one side of their mouth claim to want to be more like Christ, and out of the other side mock the standards of God in the choices they make.

Those of you who know me know that I don't make any claims to have it all together in this area. In fact, there are areas that I really need to work on. One of the things I am most grateful for is that I have people in my life who will speak to my weak areas, confront me in love when change is needed, and encourage me as I cooperate with the sanctification process. Without those people & the work of the Holy Spirit, I would look and act just as lost as the person without Christ.

We need to be intentional about who & what we choose to allow to influence our life. The gospel is truly at stake in the choices His people make. "I will be careful to lead a blameless life-when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing...My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." Psalm 101:2-3a,6

Some Things Never Change

This weekend is the Word Within the Word Conference at Union University. I went by myself and hoped that I would find someone nice to eat and talk with. I sat down at a table with two ladies who welcomed me warmly. We struck up a conversation and were enjoying getting to know each other. Another woman joined us (who was wonderful, and I look forward to talking with her more tomorrow), and she asked me where I am from. I said northern Minnesota, and the mood at the table changed. One of the first two ladies said, "Oh, you're from up there," and that was the last thing she said to me the entire night. This was just another example of how the attitude towards outsiders (especially those of us from the north) in this place will never change. What blessed me, though, was how much the attitude of my heart has changed. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening and am excited about going back tomorrow. I was still able to see the blessing in the other woman who joined us and made me feel accepted in a room full of strangers. God may not change my situation, but He has worked a miracle in the way I respond to it. I am so thankful that He never gives up on me, and for the people who who have come alongside Him & me in that process.