Bonjour!

     Apart from a couple of déjà vu’s, my exposure to French culture was limited to French Fries, French Toast, and French Vanilla Ice cream until I travelled to Paris a decade ago. I feared my visit to France might make me too sophisticated and erudite for my own good, but c'est la vie. I went anyway.

     By birth, I’m Choctaw, Irish, and Spanish, but there is anecdotal evidence of French blood. I like hors d'oeuvres and chicken cordon bleu, I’m prone to faux paus, I own a chaise longue, and I have that savoir faire common to red-haired freckled men. Then again, I have never been to Mardi Gras and I don’t care for the Fleur de Lis of the New Orleans’ Saints. So, who knows? But after interacting with the crème de la crème of France, I don’t think I will ever be the same.  I can only imagine how much greater my transformation would have been if I had actually made it out of the Paris airport!

     Rubbing shoulders with others can profoundly change us, whether we realize or not.  The Bible says, as iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. This truth prompted Solomon to warn his readers to make no friendship with an angry man lest you learn his ways and it become a snare to your soul.  We are more easily impacted by our environment than we think.  Since the focus of our affection influences our thoughts, feelings and philosophies, John warns us. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

      That which fascinates us and that which we embrace eventually molds us.  The Word commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – not just because He is worthy of our love, but also because that love changes us and conforms us to His will. Paul echoed this truth when he wrote, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

     There can be no greater influence on a believer than his relationship to Christ.  The Bible says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things become new”.  Not only is the very nature of our soul changed by our status in Christ, but so also are our thoughts, words, actions and reactions.  Fellowship with Christ should have a greater effect than hanging with a friend, listening to music, watching a movie, or visiting another country does.

     Another powerful force in our lives is corporate worship. The Head of the Body ministers to the Body through its members.  Hebrews chapter 10 says, “let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”   Let’s say “Au revoir” to the things of the world and “Bonjour” to the things of God.