You.

I am the Lord your God. Be holy because I am holy. Leviticus 1144 the chameleon has the ability to change the color of its skin to closely match the background on which it rests. Changing color provides camouflage, letting the small lizard blend into the background so that it is not so easily noticed by predators. Sometimes Christian ins act like the chameleon, changing their behavior, dress and language in order to blend in with their crowd of friends. Anxious to fit in, they do what everyone else is doing. If friends listen to a certain kind of music, they choose to listen to that kind of music as well. If friends wear a certain brand of athletic shoe, they want a pair of those shoes too. If friends hang out at a certain bar on Saturday night, they hang out there as well. There is, of course, nothing wrong with wanting to fit in with those around us. But if our desire and efforts to fit in and be one of the gang cause us to compromise our christian identity, character and witness, it is wrong. Our identity must always be that of a Christian, no matter the time or place or group we're with at any given time. To belong to Christ means that we have pledged our lives to him and must always and forever be identified as a Christian, nothing less. Friendship with Christ is far more important than friendship with anyone else, and the desire to please Christ and to be like him should be greater than our desire to fit in with a group of friends. When we were baptized into Christ, we clothed ourself with Christ and began to think, talk and act like him. We cannot simply take off our christian identity when it is controversial or when we are around those who do not agree with the christian lifestyle. Being a Christian is not a part time job. We are either Christians all the time or we are not Christians at all. We are not to be chameleons that blend in with whatever group comes along. Instead, we are to be different. Our desire and effort should be to be like Jesus at all times and in all ways.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected]. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.