| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “A fresh start in a new year” Our Bible verse for today: “There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” Revelation 14:11-12 (NIV) Our thought for today: “We must want to be different” I read an interesting and challenging statement the other morning in my daily devotional message for pastors. The writer was describing the woeful state of our society today and why it is so important for pastors to preach and teach the Word of God, and to lead their people to stand firm and to stand out in a culture that is descending in chaos and sinfulness. The lesson was about helping God’s people to develop the character traits needed to be strong and courageous in a society that is spiraling out of control, and how to stand out as a beacon of hope and light as we model the difference Jesus can make in a life. Here was the writer’s observation about our society: “We are now the most indebted, medicated, addicted, and overweight population in known history. This is not a society learning good character.” He was highlighting the fact that we live in a consumer-oriented culture that is addicted to conspicuous consumption, drugs, alcohol, food, pornography, and so much more. And not only are people not satisfied and happy with such lifestyles, they are so unhappy that we consume far more anti-depressants than any other society in the world. The writer’s point was that God’s people should be different, and the world should be able to see the difference. This is why we make New Years resolutions – because we do want to be different. But living different and better requires intentionality, discipline, patience, and endurance. In Revelation 14:11-12 the Apostle John was describing a scene from the time of the Great Tribulation (which is yet to come) when the antichrist is ruling and reigning over the world. The people who follow him are frantically trying to please and obey him, only to discover that they are miserable. In the middle of that chaos, the people of God will have to be intentional, courageous, disciplined, and patient in order to endure and stand out as a holy shining example of the difference Jesus makes in a life. In our day, we haven’t reached the time of the Great Tribulation yet, but our world is bad and it is getting worse. If we don’t want to be like the world then we will have to want to be different, and we will have to be intentional about making it so. We will think more about this tomorrow but for now please prayerfully consider if you are making an intentional effort to be different from our indebted, medicated, addicted, overweight, discontent, and unhappy society. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville |
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Oak Hill Baptist Church 
Amen. Have to be different.