Under the Influence

1 Peter 5:6-11 The enemy loves labels, because if you take on and identify with the label instead of the Lord, he has you! Black, White, Hispanic, Men, Women, Right, Left, Liberal, Conservative… the list goes on and on. When asked, “Are you on our side or their side?” The answer should always be, “No. I’m on the Lord’s side.” You see, if you choose a label to live by, you are going to be pushed into all the values that go with that label, and it’s easy to fall into following the label leaders and definers instead of the Lord, and that label can become your religion; And, as Jesus told Satan, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." The beautiful hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” ends with this statement: “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” When you responded to Jesus’ call to follow Him, and were saved, you did that. When you were baptized, you made a statement publicly to the Lord, the church and to the world that you were giving Him your soul, your life, your all. The water symbolized dying to self and the world, and living to God. In that moment you affirmed your response to the Lord’s words, “If anyone wishes come after me, they must deny themselves, and take up their cross daily, and follow me.” You declared your intention to do just that. You humbled yourself before Him. You put Him before your pride, your understanding and any other influence in life. So, how have you been doing at keeping that commitment?