“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"!
Mathew 3:2
A short while ago, a few friends and I were discussing fashion; what the world of fashion expresses as the appropriate way to put an ensemble together. The argument was that apparently, there is a 'general rule of fashion', which states for example, that it is forbidden to wear white socks with sandals and a pair of shorts!
I replied with the question "who made this so called ‘general rule of fashion' and how did it come about? The way an individual chooses to put together clothing items to make an outfit, isn't this dependant on what that individual is exposed to, their environment?
... and thus the question:
I replied with the question "who made this so called ‘general rule of fashion' and how did it come about? The way an individual chooses to put together clothing items to make an outfit, isn't this dependant on what that individual is exposed to, their environment?
... and thus the question:
"what is the nature, shape, form and very essence of the environments that we are exposed to"?
The dictionary describes Environment as thus: the aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influences; surroundings or the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population.
Every environment we find ourselves in produces knowledge; good or bad. We acquire knowledge from our environment. The experiences within our environment plays a vital part in the formation of our knowledge, such as pain, love, or compassion.
The knowledge obtained from our environment is eventually transformed into belief. Belief is defined as 'the mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another'. Belief is what we accept as the truth, and this is greatly influenced from the knowledge we are exposed to.
Our belief shapes our values. For instance, we will place a high value on what we think is important and not readily exchange it for what is not.
Going further, our values influence the choices we make in life. When we are presented with options, the values that has been instilled within us, from our beliefs, will inform the choices we make. For example, if a believer is faced with a choice of going to church on Sunday morning as opposed to watching a movie, he/she will most likely choose to go to Church. It is safe to say that the individual will place more value on going to church than watching a movie.
And finally our choices determine the actions we make. Such as wearing white socks with sandals and a pair of shorts! For whoever wears such believes that is sensible fashion and has made the choice to wear it as so, based on the fashion experiences that individual has been exposed to, within their environment.
In Mathew 3:2 John the baptist, whilst preaching in the wilderness of Judea said “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” To repent means to turn from sin and evil towards God. Repentance means to change our environment from a sinful one to a godly one. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour we don't add Him to our sinful environment. We move from our sinful environment into His environment. We change our heart from sin, to one that is open towards God's word of truth. We change our environment from Darkness to Light.
True repentance should and will change our actions, as we are taught in Luke 3: 8 - 14 and in Acts 26:20 , not forgetting that our actions is a result of our choices, values, beliefs and knowledge, all originating from our environment. To have a change of actions when we repent, means we have had a change of environment.
Every environment we find ourselves in produces knowledge; good or bad. We acquire knowledge from our environment. The experiences within our environment plays a vital part in the formation of our knowledge, such as pain, love, or compassion.
The knowledge obtained from our environment is eventually transformed into belief. Belief is defined as 'the mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another'. Belief is what we accept as the truth, and this is greatly influenced from the knowledge we are exposed to.
Our belief shapes our values. For instance, we will place a high value on what we think is important and not readily exchange it for what is not.
Going further, our values influence the choices we make in life. When we are presented with options, the values that has been instilled within us, from our beliefs, will inform the choices we make. For example, if a believer is faced with a choice of going to church on Sunday morning as opposed to watching a movie, he/she will most likely choose to go to Church. It is safe to say that the individual will place more value on going to church than watching a movie.
And finally our choices determine the actions we make. Such as wearing white socks with sandals and a pair of shorts! For whoever wears such believes that is sensible fashion and has made the choice to wear it as so, based on the fashion experiences that individual has been exposed to, within their environment.
In Mathew 3:2 John the baptist, whilst preaching in the wilderness of Judea said “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” To repent means to turn from sin and evil towards God. Repentance means to change our environment from a sinful one to a godly one. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour we don't add Him to our sinful environment. We move from our sinful environment into His environment. We change our heart from sin, to one that is open towards God's word of truth. We change our environment from Darkness to Light.
True repentance should and will change our actions, as we are taught in Luke 3: 8 - 14 and in Acts 26:20 , not forgetting that our actions is a result of our choices, values, beliefs and knowledge, all originating from our environment. To have a change of actions when we repent, means we have had a change of environment.
What is the nature, shape and form of your environment? What knowledge are you getting from it? What beliefs are you forming from it? What values are you developing from it? What choices are you making, based on it, and what actions is being manifested because of it?
If your actions are not helping you live out the realities of the salt of the earth (Mathew 5:13), or the the Light of the world (Mathew 5:14) that God has declared you to be, I encourage you to change the very nature, shape and form of your environment. This is so that your good deeds (actions) and not 'the general rule of manifesting from the wrong environment' shines out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father; making Him famous along the way.
Much Love
Remi
***pictures by photobucket***
4 Comments:
Hello Sweet Remi. You're right, it is all about choices. I pray we are led by the Lord in our choices -- even in the way we wear our clothes. :o)
Thank you for sharing.
Beth
You are DEF right-I was just making a similar point on this, last weekend!
..enjoyed this..and luvd this in particular.."When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour we don't add Him to our sinful environment. We move from our sinful environment into His environment"..
God bless you
Do these verses show the environment that god has brought us into?
If any one walk in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world; John 11: 9
But I say, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh's lust. Galatians 5: 16
... walk in love, even as the Christ loved us ... Ephesians 5: 2
Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming opportunities. Colossians 4: 5
But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1: 7
I have no greater joy than these things that I hear of my children walking in the truth. 3 John 4
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