Were you raised going to church?  I was.  It wasn’t once a week either.  It was twice on Sunday (Sunday School, Morning Worship, followed by Training Union – yes, I was Southern Baptist – and Evening Worship), then to complete the regular weekly church activities, we went to Prayer Meeting on Wednesday night.  Oh, plus any extra activities during the week when available. People who didn’t grow up that way might mistakenly think I was saved from birth.  HA!  Not so.  None of us are, regardless of being “churched.”  Our salvation is only assured when we understand the meaning of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross – taking the punishment we deserve and declaring Jesus as the Lord of our lives and the savior of the world.  Then we begin growing more Christlike.

Regardless of how “good” we have been, our lifestyle, our thoughts, our understanding, our values, our habits, our goals, and sometimes, even our friends, should change if they have not been glorifying God.  Paul phrased it by saying “Walk not as other Gentiles walk.”   The change rarely happens overnight but a noticeable difference should be evident soon.  If that doesn’t happen, how can others know we have changed?  What will urge them to want Christ in their life?   Our purpose is to influence others to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior as we have done.