Distinctiveness

Wedgwood Baptist Church in Ft Worth, TX posted a weekly commentary that is structured for day-by-day study. The highlight for today is the pride of the ruler of Tyre and the study asks “What are the dangers of living in a prosperous society?” A bad meal at Pappasitos? Seriously, I was dialoguing with a friend today whose son grew up in a prosperous home. However, the son was recently placed in a military boarding school because he lacked respect for authority and demonstrated little commitment. It was a tough love decision to put him there. An original tough love illustration comparing brownies to movies is disgusting. Another tough love example is that the Lord loved the ruler of Tyre as surely as he judged him. This is the kind of “tough” love that’s hard to live out as a Christian, but that’s the aim of this lesson.

University Baptist Church in Huntsville, AL also posted a lesson commentary with a few questions, too, but it is not very distinctive. In telling us that we are salt of the earth, Jesus in effect said that we must be distinctive in the culture in which we live. We are to act as a preservative, preventing decay. The world around us will hate us for the message we deliver. Rejoice in the love of a sovereign God.