As Christians, we are called to a higher standard of living. The world around us is constantly bombarding us with distractions to take our eyes off of Jesus. In I Peter 2:9 we are encouraged to live for God. It says, "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Later in verses 11 of the same chapter, Peter says, "I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."
All of this is bringing us to the main point. This morning I read Philippians where we find one of my favorite verses. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things" (Philippians 4:8). If we are called to be "people belonging to God" and to live as "strangers in the world," shouldn't we live, not as the world encourages us to live but as God is calling us to live? What if we ran all of the entertainment we partake of in life through the test of Philippians 4:8? What if we allowed it to guide our thoughts, our words, and our actions? What would be the result of focusing all aspects of our life on ONLY whatever is true, noble, right, and pure?
We should live our lives in such a way that we show everyone around us that we are "longing for a better country--a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:16). Most of all, we should all work to hasten the soon coming of Jesus!!!
