They think it strange

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4
1 Peter 4:4-5 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

When someone gets saved later in life, they many times have a hard time with some of their friends. These friends might have been company in drinking and partying. Now, the believer wants nothing to do with these things because Jesus Christ has changed his life.

When a person who used to 'run in excess of riot' stops participating in these activities, their friends often speak evil of them. They think you are now 'too good to hang out with them' and that you are 'holier than thou'. That is not the case however.

The truth is that now Jesus lives in you. His Spirit and His Word are the driving influences in the Christians life. Jesus does not lead people into sin. He leads you in holiness. A follower of Jesus will be lead away from those things.

The believer knows that he will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account to Jesus some day. He or she wants to be able to say he lived for the Lord instead of for his own lusts. The Bible says:

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Be done with sin and live for the will of God. Your friends may not understand this. Don't be judgmental. Be truthful and love them. Tell them about the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).

They may not understand at first, but keep on praying for them and trust God. They may become Christ followers too.

In Christ,
Rody