Being Shaped 

I was sitting on my patio today enjoying one of the first days of fall weather.  I noticed something that I had not seen before.  There are two trees close to each other. One is a elm tree and the other is a bottle brush which we have manicured to be rounded on the top.  Today I noticed that one side of the bottlebrush is being distorted in shape even though it is not touching the elm tree.  The elm tree is influencing the bottlebrush even from a distance.

Does that happen in our lives?  The world has become so subtle in influencing our lives that we hardly notice.  I have recently been reading some books that are written for 3^rd – 5^th grade students, which have very subtle sexual overtones.  I have stopped watching several television shows because of the subtle and not so subtle messages that are being sent.  Commercials for every product send messages about everything except the product they are advertising. Messages about what we should own, how we should look and where we should go on our vacations are always before us. 

Christians must begin to work to shape our world for the Lord.  If we are not very careful, we can be shaped by those things that are around us, even if they do not touch us.  I was amazed to see that that elm tree could change the shape of the bottlebrush without even touching it.  We can often believe that we are strong enough to get close to sin without it having an effect on our lives. That is a lie from Satan.

As Christians, we must guard what comes into our minds, our eyes, our hearts and our homes.  Without caution, we can allow things to come in that seem that they are far enough removed to not hurt us.  Again, a lie from Satan.  Anything that comes close can have power over us.  Let us ensure that anything that we allow to penetrate our lives is of the Lord.  

Are there some things in your life that are shaping you in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord?  Have you taken the time to evaluate the books you are reading, the shows you are watching, the movies you watch to see if you are being shaped by the world?

Proverbs 4:23-27

“Watch over your heart and with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Put away from you a deceitful mouth,

And put devious lips far from you.

Let your eyes look directly ahead,

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

Watch the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be established.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.”