Deuteronomy Chapter 18: Verse 9 (NLT Translation)
When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
Philippians Chapter 4: Verse 9 (NLT Translation)
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me – everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
We need to be careful who we imitate and why. Moses warned the Israelites not to imitate the practices of the other nations around them. Just because “everyone else is doing it”, doesn’t mean its right. However, for young people especially, peer pressure can be difficult to resist. That’s why having a good role model, but also being a good role model is so important. Paul encouraged the Philippian church to follow his example, and he in turn followed the example set by Jesus Himself.
As a good ambassador for Jesus, Christians should always seek to be an example that Jesus Himself would approve of, rather than trying to fit in with the crowd, but that’s not always easy. Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
Dear Lord,
Help me to be careful who I try to emulate, but also to be an example of a good follower of Jesus. I ask in His name. Amen.