AUGUST 27, 1 Peter 1:16

On his birthday, John received from grandma a Nintendo DS as present. Next, he got an Xbox 360 for doing well in his examinations. For Christmas, he received a handphone. All these things that John received were requested by him. You see, months before he received them, John had it all planned…

“Grandma, Nintendo DS is very fun. Marcus has one too. I don’t want to keep borrowing from him. Please buy it for my birthday,” requested John before his birthday.

“Dad, Mum, there are many interesting Xbox games. Will you promise to buy it when I score 75 marks for all the subjects? Ben has it, so does Andrew. Even Billy has a second-hand one,” pleaded John.

“Everyone has a handphone. Some in class even have I Phones! Everyone has a handphone. I gotta have it!”, whined John.

The message of the world is that you need to fit in. You must dress a certain way, own specific things and act in a certain manner. The message is you can’t be happy unless you are like everyone else. This is what John thinks. Is this how you think?

There is nothing wrong in owning a handphone, or some latest computer game. But to want them because everyone else has it – that is not right. Worse, some children may think it is cool to have these and therefore show off! Are you like that?

To be holy is to separate from the world and its ways. It is to live according to God’s ways rather than the world’s ways. It takes courage to be different from others. It takes more courage to stay on the right path. It means standing alone. Are you brave enough to stand alone?

Thought: When I stand alone for God, God will be with me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have called me to be holy as You are holy. Help me not to follow the world’s ways but Your ways. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.