OUR DAILY BREAD             Sat., April 8, 1995
---------------

READ: 1 Peter 4:1-5


                    AGAINST THE FLOW

           "Do not be conformed to this world."

                        -- Romans 12:2

Two university students in Moorhead, Minnesota,
painted a mural on the wall outside their dormitory
room.  According to USA Today, it showed a school of
fish all swimming in the same direction except for
a single fish heading the opposite way.

The one fish was intended to be the age-old symbol
for Christ.  Printed on the picture were the words,
"Go against the flow."  University officials,
arguing that the mural might offend non-Christians,
ordered the students to paint over it.

In obedience to our Master, we must be willing to
go against the flow of society.  As we follow Jesus,
our motives, values, and habits are bound to be
different from those who are not Christians.  That's
the way it was in the first century when the pagans
were puzzled and convicted by the lifestyle of
Christians.  Peter wrote, "They think it strange
that you do not run with them in the same flood of
dissipation, speaking evil of you"  (1 Peter 4:4).

When we are marching to the beat of a different
drummer, of course we will be out of step with
people around us.  This takes conviction, courage,
and courtesy.  But by God's enabling grace we can
be disturbingly different -- and effectively
different too.
                                -- Vernon C. Grounds

        Some will hate you, some will love you;
         Some will flatter, some will slight;
          Cease from man and look above you,
            Trust in God and do the right.

                                -- Macleod
------------------------------------------
           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
------------------------------------------
       When we walk with the Lord,
   we'll be out of step with the world.
------------------------------------------

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  2 Kings 7-10

=========================================================================
Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are being archived at ICLnet
by arrangement with Radio Bible Class. RBC is presently developing its
own servers and we look forward to RBC's official presence here on the 
internet in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be
obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of Bible re-
sources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or 
denomination,  and support comes voluntarily from its Members and 
Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221.

Thanks to Larry Holder (lholder@utm.edu) for the email transcript of 
Our Daily Bread, having originated from his distribution to the 
Conservative Christian Discussion List. This copy was written permission 
from RBC.

RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communications 
Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/.

- ICLnet
=========================================================================


-------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950408.txt

.