.

.

Daily Devotional – MARCH 12

.

.

.

.

Building Relationships

.

.

.

.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?…

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,”

2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

.

.

.

.

.

There is a doctrine which has been blowing through the Christian world for many decades. It is the idea that Christians need to be building relationships with unbelievers, so that we can eventually win them over to Christ!

.

Now this devotional would like to ask the question: “How in the world am I going to build relationships with unbelievers, and still remain a Christian!?”

.

Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

.

.

.

.

.

SPEAKING HOLY WORDS

.

Listen to Peter… “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;” 1st Peter 4:11

.

Here we see what God expects from us in our conversations.

.

Our words are to be Christlike.

.

Anger during a protest – by David Shankbone – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike-License

.

.

.

.

.

JESUS, SEPARATE FROM SINNERS!

.

And so, if we try to build a relationship with an unbeliever, are we going to switch over to ungodly conversation? And do you ever read about Jesus building relationships with unbelievers?

.

Listen to Paul’s assessment of Jesus… “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, SEPARATE FROM SINNERS, and made higher than the heavens…” Hebrews 7:26

.

So it says that Jesus was “separate from sinners”. Did Jesus ever lower His standard of conduct, so that He could better relate to a worldling in a worldly way? Did Paul ever keep company with unbelievers? You never read about Paul having secular relationships, do you?

.

Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

WITNESS BUT NOT FELLOWSHIP

.

Where did we get the idea that we are supposed to build relationships with unbelievers, so that we can lead them to Jesus?

.

Not from the Bible! Well, Satan always likes to take Christians too far in one direction, or another!

.

And of course, the Christian has been told to preach the Gospel! But Satan has taken this admonition to the next level, by preaching that we must build personal relationships with unbelievers!

.

And he does this, so that he can work through that unbeliever to pull that weak Christian back into the world!

.

.Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

.

.

.

.

.

WHO CONVERTS WHO?

.

One of the big problems is, that by so-doing, the Christian is more likely to be converted by that unbeliever, back into the world!

.

In other words, by constantly associating with unbelievers, the Christian is likely to become worldly and vain, as a result!

.

The Bible says, “Be not deceived! Evil communications corrupts good manners!” 1st Corinthians 15:33

.

Don’t let anyone deceive you! By constantly associating with the world we will begin to act and we will begin to react like unbelievers, for the most part! We will become giddy and frivolous! We will begin to seek after worldly entertainment! We will easily lose our temper! We will laugh at naughty jokes! And we will lose our love for Bible study and meditation and prayer!

.

PS Krøyer – Hip hip hurra! – Kunstnerfest på Skagen – 1888 – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

ALONE WITH GOD

.

But rather, Paul exhorts us to… “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

.

Rather than building worldly relationships, we need to build a better relationship with God! We need to spend as much time as possible, praying and contemplating His Word!

.

We need to get alone with God as much as possible!

.

Braet von Überfeldt – Woman with Bible – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

.

But it seems as if the very ones who are most vocal about building relationships, are the very ones who are the least vocal about becoming changed into the glorious image of Christ!

.

These worldly-minded individuals speak about loving our neighbor, but rarely speak about living the sanctified life!

.

They have a worldly idea about loving one’s neighbor. They view neighborly love in much the same way that the world understands love!

.

Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

STRIVING LAWFULLY

.

The fact is, if a Christian does not have the burning desire to become like Jesus in every way, then it is quite possible that such a Christian has never truly become Born Again! 

.

Because, to become changed into the image of Christ should be the supreme desire of every truly saved person! Oh yes, we have been given the burning desire to tell the world about Jesus! But to cast aside our piety so that we can relate to unbelievers, is an abomination to God!

.

Listen to Paul… “And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2nd Timothy 2:5

.

We are counselled to strive lawfully! If we simply do all things according to the Bible, God will use us to convert others!

.

Paul persecuted by Pharisees & Sadducees – www.thebiblerevival.com – US Public Domain

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me a love for heavenly fellowship! Take away my desire for the low channels of earthly conversation! Let Jesus live out His holy life through me, that all the world may know that Jesus dwells in me…

USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “February 11th (Come Out From Among Them!)“, or you can also read… January 19th (Who Wants To Hang Out With Holiness?) 

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

.

.

.

. 

.

THE END

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

.

.

.

WIDE & NARROW GATES IN THE HEAVENS

.

. 

As the opening verse says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

.

So what are these two gates all about? And how can I choose the right door? Well, just read this article and these questions and more will be answered.

.

.

This sketch, while not 100% accurate, gives a fair portrayal of how this constellation group appears at winter’s end and even into June, when above the western horizon.

 

.

ABOVE CHART : Revelation 12 Woman swerving toward Narrow Gate – late winter – signsofheaven.org

.

.

.

.

READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)

.

.

.

.

TOMORROW…

“MARCH 13 (Come Out of Her, My People, Part 3: Heart Renewal)”

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart – wwwtheheavensdeclare.net – not for commercial purposes

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH                                                                                                                                                                                            .

ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

.

THIS STUDY #434 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

.

The Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.com – Public Domain