The Influence

“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,
Except for marital unfaithfulness,
And marries another woman commits adultery”.
Matthew 19:9

     There are some extremely hard truths in the Bible.  And not all of these truths are located in the Old Testament.  But it is not the truth that shapes and defines us.  It is how we react to these truths that determine where we stand.  This truth regarding divorce and adultery is a bitter pill for many to swallow, simply because it affects so many in the church today.  And if so many in the church today are getting divorces, doesn’t it make pronouncing judgment upon this particular sin difficult at least?  We don’t want to risk offending anyone, especially over something that is only the least of sins.  But we fail to understand that through the crack of one compromise an ocean of sin may flow in.

     We have to ask ourselves where our influences are located.  Is the church being influenced by the world or is it being influenced by the Word of God?  It cannot be influenced by both.  Either it will love one and hate the other or it will cling to one and be a hypocrite to the other.  Where do we fall and how fall have we fallen?  Regardless of where we stand on this one issue, the problem does not balance on divorce.  The problem is a product of our compromise.

     Now, do not misunderstand me.  I am not saying that we should hide from the world in an effort to escape its influence.  I am saying that we shouldn’t allow the world to influence our thinking, to shape our view.  In order to fulfill the great commission, we have to be in the world.  However, to grow in the image of our Lord and Savior, we have to allow our view to be shaped by the power of the Word of God.  Our position effects our actions, but our influences, or what we allow to influence us, effect our positions.

•           A disciple is formed by obeying and applying the Bible to his life

Application:  When I read passages that seem difficult, where do my loyalties lie?  Do I ignore the passage and not allow it to influence me or do I obey the passage and allow it to transform me?