Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:2-4, NIV
My mother is an extremely observant person. In fact, she amazes me with the things she notices. I amaze myself with the many things that I do not notice. However, even the most unobservant of us regularly consider the behaviors of those around us because we are by nature imitators; monkey-see-monkey-do.
Others are influenced by our behavior and we are influenced by the behavior of others. This is why when you were a teenager your parents would say things like, “You are known by the company you keep” or “If you lay down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas”. Indeed, 1 Corinthians 15:33, NIV, tells us, "Do not be misled: “"Bad company corrupts good character.""
As Christians, we should be keenly aware of how our behavior influences others, not only those who are unsaved, but also other Christians as well. We are to walk worthy of our calling in Christ; we are not to do anything that would cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble and fall (Romans 14:21).
Dearest Lord, give me the grace to see beyond this moment—keep me ever mindful that I represent Christ to others—the saved and the unsaved. Empower me to live a godly life—to participate in the divine nature through Christ each day. I make this request in His name—Amen.
God Bless!
