Dear BPCWA worshipper, Last week we saw how God expects us to be separate from the world. This is not to mean that we must seek to be hermits, be underachievers, avoid shopping centres or restaurants, abstain from holidays, or stay far from anyone who is not a Christian. In fact, even if you do not engage in much in of what the “worldlings” do, you can be worldly! Worldliness is not just what you do or don’t do, but what is in your heart in the first place. This is why in 1 Peter, God tells us “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11). Sadly,
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, The Christian must have the right view of the world to live rightly in this world. The Bible tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). Yet, God reminds us that “the whole world lieth in wickedness.” (1 Jn 5:19). So are we to love the world or shun it as evil? Do you think the world is evil? We live, walk, see, and talk every day in the world so much that we’ve gotten accustomed to it. Yes, we’ll admit that some pockets in the world aren’t good, but we may feel that to “generalise”
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, We must remember that godly thoughts lead to godly living. I shall summarise the remaining areas of Philippians 4:8 and I pray it will help us reinforce our learning that will lead to us practicing what we have received and heard. Whatsoever things are just. This refers to whatsoever is in line with the justice and righteousness of God and is therefore approved and acceptable to God. Whatever the Bible says is just, and the Bible must be the standard for judging all things. So, while the media and the world may try to evoke emotions to change public opinion or for greater readership, the Christian must constantly be on guard to question if their ideas are
Read moreDear BPCWA worshipper, Given how significantly our thought life affects our spiritual character “for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .” (Prov 23:7), and how it contributes to our spiritual wellbeing (Phil 4:1, 8), it is important that we do not forget the key lessons from Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. What you seek after, what you would choose, and what kind of Christian you are is the product of what has first occurred in
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