[Faith-talk] FW: [thefamilyoffaith] Senior Living Ministries - A Transformed Life

[Eric Calhoun]

Original Message: 
From: "TONY_at_FloridaHealth" <FloridaHealth21 at verizon.net>
To: <thefamilyoffaith at yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [thefamilyoffaith] Senior Living Ministries - A Transformed Life
Date: 
Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:50:51 -0400



           
             
              What is a Christian? In the Letter to Diognetus, dating
back to the second century, an anonymous writer described Christians:

                  
                 
                         
                        [Jesus said]: "If the world hates you, keep in
mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love
you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen
you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. . If they persecute
me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will
obey yours also."
                        --John 15:18-20 
                       
                 
                 
                 
            "Christians are not differentiated from other people by
country, language, or customs; ...they do not live in cities of their own,
or speak some strange dialect. ... They live in both Greek and foreign
cities....They follow local customs in clothing, food, and the other
aspects of life. But at the same time, they demonstrate to us the unusual
form of their own citizenship.

            "They live in their own native lands, but as aliens. ... They
marry and have children...but they do not kill unwanted babies. They offer
a shared table, but not a shared bed. They are passing their days on earth,
but are citizens of heaven. They obey the appointed laws and go beyond the
laws in their own lives.

            "They love everyone, but are persecuted by all. They are put
to death and gain life. They are poor and yet make many rich. They are
dishonored and yet gain glory through dishonor. ... They are mocked and
blessed in return. They are treated outrageously and behave respectfully to
others.

            "When they do good, they are punished as evildoers; when
punished, they rejoice as if being given new life. They are attacked by
Jews...and are persecuted by Greeks; yet those who hate them cannot give
any reason for their hostility."
            If you are a believer, the Bible commands you "...not [to]
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2). And you can expect the world to
hate you as a result (see 1 John 3:13). Continue to be sanctified by the
truth of God's Word and be in the world but not of it (see John 2:15).

            Prayer Challenge
            Pray that God would empower you to always be set apart, even
when the world hates you, so that others can see the difference Jesus has
made in your life.