Wednesday, August 5, 2015

We Want to be Accepted


We want to be liked by the world,
Accepted as one of their own.
So that we don’t offend,
We fail to defend
The truth which in God’s Word is shown.

We want to be liked by the world,
Accepted in full recognition.
So the clothing we wear
Is no different than theirs.
Then how will they know we’re Christian?

We want to be liked by the world,
Which leads to a meaningless chat.
We lock up good words,
‘Cause they really prefer
That you not speak of Christ and all that.

We want to be liked by the world,
But we can’t befriend them and God both.
To be on their terms
For acceptance affirms
That we’ve cheated on our Betrothed.

-- Charity, girl, age 17

Scriptural basis:
"You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?” (Jas 4:4-5, NIV)

"Do not love the world nor 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 lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." (1Jn 2:15-17, NASB)

"'If you belonged to the world, it would love you as His own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Jn 15:19, NIV)

"“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Php 3:17, NIV)

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mk 8:36, NIV)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom 12:2 NASB)

"Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness." (1Ti 2:9-10 NASB)

"In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." (1Pe 3:1-4 NASB)

Related blogs:

Related Poems:
Beauty Unfading
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Most other Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®, unless otherwise noted.  The photo of the cross tattoos is in the public domain, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Author's note The poems in this blog were written by my children, ages ten through seventeen. The "Why This Blog" post explains how the Lord inspired these poems in answer to a prayer during illness. I also recommend visiting my children's blog, A Brush with Life, where you will also find beautiful art they have drawn for the glory of God. You can access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

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