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Unless you have been living under a rock you have been to Walmart and seen some really weird outfits. I know there have been times I have noticed someones outfit and thought to myself I wouldn't have left the house in that, let alone worn it in public. There is even a website that is devoted to the strange outfits and antics of Walmart customers. The site, “The People of Walmart,” is a humorous site that depicts the many customers of Walmart stores across the United States and Canada, through funny photos. My difficult question for you is this: what are you looking at? What are you focusing on? If you spend to much time looking at the world you will soon become distressed, If you spend to much time looking at yourself you will become depressed but if you focus on and look to God you will find rest! As Christians we are called to be in the world but not of the world.

John 15:19 ESV If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Jesus understood the tension we would experience as Christians living in a hostile world. So what does it really mean to be in the world, but not of the world? How do we decide which shows we should watch, which environments we should avoid or which activities are out of bounds? Look to the word of God, focus on bible study. The sad fact is that the only way to completely avoid all sinful experiences or influences is to leave this world altogether. You will always experience temptation until that day you enter into eternity in heaven. The fact that you might be in a location where your Christian view is challenged is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, God may have placed you there so you can have a positive impact on those who don’t yet know Jesus. As Christians we are to be a light in a dark and sin filled world.

Matthew 5:14-16 ESV You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

So the question we must ask ourselves is how bright is our light. When you see that person dressed in some crazy outfit at Walmart that you just can't un-see it burns a memory in your head. What exactly are people seeing in your day to day actions? What influence is your life having on those around you? Living the Christian lifestyle is so difficult! Sometimes our light stops shining because we have started to crave the world more than we want to change it. This can happen to anyone, even those of us who are active in our church. We begin to pursue pleasure, attention, and money more than we strive after spiritual things like faith, love, and a close relationship with God. Worldly things promise us a lot, but ultimately leave us empty. God’s path leads to an inspiring, fulfilling, and purposeful life.

1 John 2:15-17 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Worldly distractions can pull your focus away from your faith. So who are you looking at, the things of the world or the things of God?

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