November 7
Ezekiel 16:42-17:24; Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 27:7-9
Everyone’s doing it! We have all said these words as kids when we wanted to do something that went against our family rules and, if you’re a parent and said no to your kids, then you have heard this phrase. It speaks to our innate desire to fit in and conform to the pattern around us.
This tendency towards conformity can be seen repeatedly in the history of Israel. Ezekiel points out that Judah became like Sodom and Samaria, and had become even more wicked. They looked at the nations around them and repeated their evil ways. Despite the ease of conformity, this doesn’t have to be how we live. Psalm 106 speaks to the examples of Moses and Phinehas who chose not to conform but instead “stood in the breach” and “stood up and intervened.” While the nation moved against God, they refused to participate in what everyone was doing and stood for God instead. This is the way we are called to walk. God has called us not to conform to the ways of sin around us but instead be conformed to the likeness of Christ. Since Christ is our great high priest and has made salvation and a relationship with God possible, we are to live in obedience to him.
Everyone around us may be going in one direction but we are called to follow Christ instead. We are called to walk in righteousness, proclaim Christ, and love those who may live in a radically different way than God desires.
Father God, thank you for the new covenant which Jesus brought. Thank you for the life you have given me and help me to walk in it. Help me to not long for the things of this world but desire your glory and walk in your ways above everything. Amen.
Question: How can you more intentionally conform to Christ rather than the world?
Everyone’s doing it! We have all said these words as kids when we wanted to do something that went against our family rules and, if you’re a parent and said no to your kids, then you have heard this phrase. It speaks to our innate desire to fit in and conform to the pattern around us.
This tendency towards conformity can be seen repeatedly in the history of Israel. Ezekiel points out that Judah became like Sodom and Samaria, and had become even more wicked. They looked at the nations around them and repeated their evil ways. Despite the ease of conformity, this doesn’t have to be how we live. Psalm 106 speaks to the examples of Moses and Phinehas who chose not to conform but instead “stood in the breach” and “stood up and intervened.” While the nation moved against God, they refused to participate in what everyone was doing and stood for God instead. This is the way we are called to walk. God has called us not to conform to the ways of sin around us but instead be conformed to the likeness of Christ. Since Christ is our great high priest and has made salvation and a relationship with God possible, we are to live in obedience to him.
Everyone around us may be going in one direction but we are called to follow Christ instead. We are called to walk in righteousness, proclaim Christ, and love those who may live in a radically different way than God desires.
Father God, thank you for the new covenant which Jesus brought. Thank you for the life you have given me and help me to walk in it. Help me to not long for the things of this world but desire your glory and walk in your ways above everything. Amen.
Question: How can you more intentionally conform to Christ rather than the world?
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