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In 1 Thessalonians 4:4, we’re urged to possess our bodies with sanctification and honor. This means watching our actions and thoughts. Are we dressing in a way that honors God? Are our motives pure? What kind of media are we consuming?
As Christians, we must avoid conforming to worldly trends and instead strive to live a holy life that pleases God. As 1 John 2:15-17 warns, loving the world and its ways is incompatible with loving God.
To illustrate this lesson, try a fun science experiment with your kids. Fill a jar with water (representing the world), add some oil (representing us in Christ), and drop in a bit of red food coloring (representing sin). Watch how the oil separates from the water, shining brightly in the sunlight. This is how God wants us to be: distinct from the sinful world.
But sometimes, we sin and become like the world (stir up the jar to show this). The good news is that when we repent, Jesus forgives us, and we become new again in Christ (watch the oil repel the food coloring and separate from the water). As John 3:16 reminds us, God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would have eternal life.
Let’s pray for God’s help to live a clean life that honors him in every way, cultivating thoughts and habits that please him. Amen.
