July 22

Sometimes we have no choice about our relationships-- a child cannot select his own father or the parent his son. But when God does allow us freedom to choose, He expects a wise choice every time.

Select spiritual masters. Be careful to show your holiness in the authority you put yourself under. First, find out if the air inside the doors is as healthful for your soul as it is for your body outside. Will you voluntarily submit to ungodly men? It is hard enough to serve two master, even when both have similar personalities; but it is impossible to serve a holy God and an ungodly man and please them both.

If you are already under the roof of wicked authorities, though, do not forget your responsibility to them even if they forget about God altogether. Your faithfulness might cause them to seek God for your sake as Nebuchadnezzar did for Daniel's. Besides, sinners would undoubtedly take the ways of God more seriously if there were more beauty upon Christians' lives to invite them into the kingdom.

We are more likely to choose a book if the print is attractive and clear and to ignore one with dull or tiny lettering. How often do employers throw away all thoughts of Christianity because their Christian employees turn in performance of pride and carelessness? The natural conclusion inevitably follows: "Is this what comes of your belief? Well, God keep me from such a religion!" Christian, your blameless behavior is the best way for ungodly or carnal employers to see the ways of God. But let me add a practical suggestion-- maybe you are doing everything you can to bring God's truth into that place but the soil is so hard and old that there is no visible hope of planting for Him there. Then it is high time to think about transplanting yourself; for if the field is too bad for you to sow Christianity in, it cannot be very good for you to grow in either.

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