Ezekiel 36:26-27 – ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone…27 And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances.’
The influence of Christianity has diminished in the West. I agree with academic dean and professor David F. Watson when he says, ‘In the United States, what has filled the void left by Christianity is, by and large, ideological radicalism, which expresses itself through political advocacy.’ How do Christians operate in a post-Christian culture?
We are reminded by the great prophet Ezekiel that God wants to give us a heart that feels for people far from Him, and a mind that is careful to follow His statutes and ordinances. To the Philippian Christians, the Apostle Paul said, ‘let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 2:5). What does that look like? Christ emptied himself. He humbled himself, taking the form of a slave, being obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. His exaltation results from his humility and obedience.
To garner influence for Christ, we must believe in the power of His Holy Spirit and daily seek His presence to imitate Him as humble servants. We must give up the value system of the sinful culture we soak in and regard others as better than ourselves. As the cancel culture comes, we must be careful with Christ’s ordinances to be humble, compassionate, ready to serve. It is in our meekness (power under control), that we reveal you cannot cancel Jesus’ influence in the world He loves.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the mind of Christ. Help me to walk humbly before you today in ready service, even towards your enemies and mine. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.