DO NOT COPY THE LOST SINNERS OF THE WORLD

PROCLAMATION

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, ‘Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ ”  1 Samuel 8:4-5 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Samuel.  When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to lead and judge Israel. (1 Samuel 8:1)  However, although Samuel was a prophet of The Lord God, (1 Samuel 3:19-21) his sons did not follow his ways.  They accepted bribes and perverted justice. (1 Samuel 8:2-3)  So the elders of Israel got together and told Samuel to appoint a king to be over them so that they could be like all of the other nations around them.  Having The Lord God as their king was not good enough for them.  They wanted to copy the sinful nations around them.  Samuel was displeased with them for this request and he prayed to God. (1 Samuel 8:6)  As an answer to his prayer, The Lord God told him that the people of Israel had rejected God as their King, but they had not rejected Samuel as their leader. (1 Samuel 8:7)  He told Samuel to warn them and let them know what having a king over them would mean.  Samuel told them all that The Lord had told him to say, in terms of what it would cost them and their families, but the people still wanted a king. (1 Samuel 8:8-20)  The Lord God then told Samuel to listen to them and give them a king. (1 Samuel 8:21-22)

 

APPLICATION

There are times when we ask for things which are not in our best interest.  Some of the things we want because they are popular and everybody else has them.  However, when you have the best, why would you want to copy something less?  Why would we want to imitate the sinful people of the world when we know where they will end up? (Revelation 20:15)  As believers we have The Holy Spirit of God within us (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26-27) and therefore we are not of this world. (John 8:33)  We are to behave in a Christ-like manner. (Romans 6:4 and 6:11)  It is Christ that we ought to imitate and not the sinful people of the world.

 

IMITATE THAT WHICH IS GOOD

PROCLAMATION

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”  3 John 1:11 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle John, under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, to Gaius, a dear friend of whom he loved in the truth.  In this, his third and final letter, again John begins by identifying himself as an “elder”, his office in the church, not as an “apostle”.  This is probably because the person to whom he is writing knows him and accepts his authority as one who walked with Christ.  After identifying the recipient and wishing him well, (3 John 1:1-2) he expresses his joy in hearing from the believers that he was faithful and walking in the truth. (3 John 1:3-4)  Then he compliments him, encourages him, and tells him how other believers have also complimented him. (1 John 3:5-8)  He then digresses and talks about Diotrephes who is not behaving in a Christ-like manner, spreading rumors, and refusing to welcome believers. (3 John 1:9-10)  Then John tells Gaius not to imitate that which is evil. (3 John 1:11)  )  He ends the letter by saying that he has much more to tell him, but that he would rather tell him when they are face to face. (3 John 1:13-14)

 

APPLICATION

John tells Gaius directly, and all believers indirectly, that believers should do that which is good and not imitate that which is not.  Imitate that which is Godly and Christ-like.   Anyone who does that which is good is a child of God.  We could not do good if God is not within us.  So, let us follow Christ and let us encourage others to do likewise.