The choices that you make today, not only effect you tomorrow, but also eternity. Life is all about choices. Look at the job you have, the car you drive, the city you live in. It’s all about choices. Are you making these choices, or are they being influenced by someone else? Look at the commercials on television. They influence you to buy their products. Movies and even the news influence you on your attitude towards life. If you were told to hate another country, you were influenced by what they said? These people go as far as making it look like how bad they are to influence you.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
As Christians we are taught to love one another. Which has influenced you more, what the world teaches, or what Jesus teaches? Every Christian will sit on the judgment seat of Christ and will be judged how they lived their lives whether good or bad. For those who follow Jesus, we are only to be influenced by what He has said. This world will do whatever it takes to keep you from being influenced by Jesus. The early church was influenced by Jesus that they were called Christians, because they looked like Him. Looking like Jesus is not of physical appearance. These people talked and acted like He would act. This is why there is a book in the bible called the Acts of the Apostles. This is to prove that a person can walk, talk and act like Jesus. If your theology is different, then it’s not the gospel. Jesus sent out seventy out that weren’t the apostles. Stephen did mighty signs and wonders and he wasn’t an apostle.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Romans 12:1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
There is only one you, make this life count for the Kingdom, and you will have great reward in heaven. Remember, it’s not about you, but Christ in you the hope of glory. It’s not what the Kingdom can do for you, but what can you do for the Kingdom to advance it.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.