"The Culture of God"

Reflections4Life™ March 1, 2020

“The Culture of God”

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:2 (MSG)

Scripture Contemplation: Psalm 106:34-39; Jeremiah 1; Daniel 5; Acts 2; Romans 12

©RutheMcdonald.

We live in a world that is primarily self-centered orientated. Even some that would do for others, calling themselves philanthropists, don’t often do so without someone knowing that it was they who did such a “good thing”. Wanting to be recognized; desiring the virtual fifteen minutes of fame; many squander their morals and ideology for social media deity and financial gain. But alas, so it is with the culture of the world. So ingrained in the hearts and minds of people, there has become a very thin line between recognizing those walking in the culture of God and the culture of this world. Will God’s real children please stand up? The world is dying and we need the remnant of God now!

I decree that this week’s Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart mind and soul. Stand up and make it known if you love the Lord and live to please God and not man. Do not be afraid to represent God, to be set apart and looked at as the exception to the rule. We were created to be a peculiar people; to not fit in, to stick out, covered by God’s grace, living under His anointing. Take the time this week to spend in the presence of God, and learn of the wonderful ways and gifts that God has waiting just for you.

God makes no mistakes. He knew what He was doing when He created each one of us. He knew what we would face in this world—the tests, trials, and temptations. He made a way of escape for all. However, it is up to us, when we come into the knowledge of who God is, to continue seeking Him and His will, and doing our part in walking according to His will and ways and not succumbing to the ways and culture of this world, that eventually turns on us; leaving us often used, abused, hurt, and confused.

It is easy to be caught up in the world and its drama. To be swept away by its sense of merriment and amusement. How many times have we witnessed people get caught up in things of this world, swept away in their emotions and flesh, only to crash and burn in the most horrific ways; their lives either being destroyed or changed in irrevocable ways? How about your own life, and any regrets you may have because you were caught up in a moment.

The flesh gravitates towards what feels good at the moment; willingly throwing caution to the wind and doing things in a moment that have lifetime consequences. Yet, even in this state of being, God has made a way of escape for us. He, in His love and kindness, has forgiven us and welcomes us with open arms, into His fold. Encouraging us to not only bare our heart and soul to Him, but also to release the baggage, let go of the pain, the past, and heartache, and receive with an open heart and judgment-free—the life and unconditional love that He has ordained for us—no questions asked. The price having already been paid through the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus the Christ, His only begotten Son.

The culture of the world entices; throws out bait to reel us in, promising a good time, reckless abandonment, no rules or structure—living from moment to moment with no care for the next day of ourselves and responsibility. While, it shames, mocks, and scoffs at those who would choose to walk in the love and grace of God. Making it seem for many that those who follow God only ever suffer, have no fun, living a boring, bland, and repressive life.

What a load of crap! All lies! For, to know God and truly walk in the culture of God is to know true freedom. It is, knowing the power and strength you have never and will never experience outside of God. It is being free mentally, emotionally, spiritually. It is, having a relationship that fills and feeds you on a daily basis, offering you a lifetime of growth and happiness, leading to eternal life in the presence of your Creator. It is, changing not only your lives but the lives of those you love and have yet to meet in a very special and unique way. Walking in the culture of God is learning what it really means to trust, and how to fight AND win against the enemy by coming to the understanding that the battles have never been ours, but has always been and will always be, the Lord’s.

My Beloved, I decree that the spirit of peace and prosperity has found permanent rest in all areas of your life. The culture of God is not boring, bland, or sterile and stiff. Do not allow the enemy to lie to you. It is a place of freedom, unconditional love, greatness, and discovery. Do not forfeit your inheritance from our Creator for the magic beans sold by the enemy. You are blessed. Now go…and be a blessing.

©2020. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.