From:
Date: January 23, 2020
Subject: It's January 23; Good Morning Union
“As obedient children… do not conform….” 1 Peter 1:14
Conformity is so convenient and even comfortable sometimes. Why make waves? It’s a lot easier to just go with the flow, put it in cruise control, just slide through life. Peter suggests otherwise! If I choose to conform I have to accept that the result of conformity is to be like that to which I am conforming. If I’m happy with that then I guess that would be good enough. But I don’t want to be just like everyone else; I want to set my sights higher than status quo—mediocrity is not the best I can attain. It’s not OK to just be “ok!”
And Peter stresses not just conformity as it affects my life in general, but conformity as it affects my spiritual life in specific. “Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” Before I discovered the possibilities with Jesus I might, in my ignorance, have been satisfied with status quo; but once I discovered my potential in Christ how could I settle for “just ok?”
Peter continues, “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” I have been called to more than just meeting “minimum daily spiritual requirements,” I have been called to be holy!! And so have you I believe! Before I confuse “holy” with “perfect.” I don’t think they are the same. I remind myself that “holy” means, “set apart for a special purpose,” and perfect is more like “have achieved all that is possible.” I have been set apart, CALLED, to be something special in God’s eyes and in His mission and purpose (and so have you!) I can’t “settle” for conformity when I’ve been “called” to something so much greater!
Have a great day focusing on calling and not conformity,
Pastor Rich
Quote for the day: “I wonder if the fact that there’s a “highway to hell” and only a “stairway to heaven” says something about the anticipated traffic numbers?”
PS uGather- This week will our speaker will be Jessyka Dooley, recent grad of Union and currently co-Youth and Young Adult Leader (with her husband Kiefer) of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Join us in the church at 10:35.
PPS Mid America Union Youth Directors are here recruiting summer camp staffs. Take advantage of this opportunity to get involved in camp ministry. Come eat pizza a 6pm tonight in the Ortner Center with the camp directors and see their set ups.
AFM representative Richardo Palacio is here on campus today. If you are interested in being a student missionary next year this is one of the options and you would do well to stop by his display in the Ortner Lobby and visit with him.
PPPS Now would be a great time to go to your uWorship app and register your personal spiritual involvement for the week!!
PP.S GoFundMe account for the fire victims will be open through this weekend if you would like to participate. What if we each gave up one thing today, like a Mill visit or a Starbucks, or a bag of chips and only gave that to this family? Just an idea! Here a reminder of the account link
https://www.gofundme.com/f/