[207]. A Message From A Poem – Our Behaviour Is Not Of The World

[207]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD

If I am a fool I will act like a fool. If I care for no one, you will probably find me at parties drinking and smoking pot. You see our behaviour flows from what we are inside.

James had something to say about this – {{James 3:11-12 “Does a fountain send out from the same opening BOTH FRESH AND BITTER WATER? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? NEITHER CAN SALT WATER PRODUCE FRESH.”}}

Our behaviour reflects what we are. If we are Christians our attitudes, thoughts, behaviour and walk should be that of a Christian. {{Acts 4:13 “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marvelling, and BEGAN TO RECOGNISE THEM AS HAVING BEEN WITH JESUS.”}}

A duck that hangs around with hens will still quack because that is its nature. Its behaviour might resemble the hens but it still quacks.

People who hang around the things of the world will slot into those things of the world. Unfortunately, Christians who hang around the behaviour of the world begin to adopt that behaviour. That is why the New Testament writers were so clear about not associating with the world system. Paul stressed that – {{Romans 12:2 “and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”}}

One of the saddest verses in the New Testament is this one that relates to a fellow worker of Paul – {{2 Timothy 4:10 “for DEMAS, HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, HAS DESERTED ME and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.”}}

If our behaviour reflects the world with its sin and anti-God sentiment, then we are not on a true course with the Lord. You are in danger of losing a reward and of being ashamed when the Lord comes. The world is 100% antagonistic to Christian concerns, and the hostility will grow worse in these last days.

As good soldiers of Christ we must stand tall for Him. I hope this poem is an encouragement for Christians to be surrendered to the will of God and to know His strength and abiding presence with you always.

The poem begins with some definitions.

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OUR BEHAVIOUR IS NOT OF THE WORLD

Ambition – there is no place for it!

Self-importance – that is Satan’s ilk!

Achievement – without God, it will flit!

Scheming – that is like fermented milk!

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Grandstanding – a means to be displayed!

Self-absorbed – without God, I, Me, Mine!

Arrogance – rudeness that is portrayed!

Delusion – teaching at Satan’s shrine!

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Christian, in this world you have distress.

You are not of the world, but apart;

Tribulation, not worldly success,

For each possesses a godly heart.

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Your true Christians are like precious gems,

Hidden in the world in the black ground.

All their goodness, love and beauty stems

From the Lord, for to Him they are bound.

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Trampled underneath by human feet,

Yet theirs is the glory soon revealed.

They are crushed by men as floured wheat,

But their inheritance is concealed.

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The Lord knows their hurt and their sad plight.

The tender hearted Shepherd does care.

Brief is the time ‘ere we take our flight

To the heavenly land, over there.

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The world has its ways; not those we clasp.

Our values are set by God’s word.

It’s not the world’s behaviour we grasp,

But it’s by God’s standard we are stirred.

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Be strong in the Lord; strong in your hope,

For troubles increase in these last days.

We don’t despair; the Lord helps us cope,

For soon sorrow will pass into praise.

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11 March 2022 R E Ferguson Metre = 9 throughout ABAB