Romans 14:7-8 (NKJV)

“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”

Paul’s team could make their stand clear and they were not ashamed of their vision. They knew that others may mock them, but they made their passion known. I believe that there would have been some who would have thought Paul’s team were extremist in their philosophy of life. “Afterall, we need to also have our own lives to live and our own honors to preserve!” This rational human thinking was totally rejected by Paul’s team because their lives did not matter to them. Their summarized purpose for living and dying was only and singularly for Christ’s honor, and their personal honor was not important to them.

So should our lives be. We should be people of example; people whose lives can be put forward as examples for emulation. We have many examples in the Church today but not many have this type of extreme devotion to Christ as their only basis for living and dying. As mentioned before, I know that such extreme commitment to the honor of Jesus will be seen by many as fanatical and misguided. But we need to stand against the tide of modern day Christian compromise and comfortable living. We need to adjust our personal mindsets so that we can be models of righteousness, worthy of being emulated. Be that living example.

“Father, I cry to be the example that men will see and be challenged to live a more passionate life of devotion to You. So influence my personal vision & practice so that others may desire to be like me, but for Your glory. This I ask, in Jesus name, “