“You know that when
you were pagans, somehow or other you
were influenced and led
astray to mute idols.”
I Corinthians 12:2
Advertisers have
purposed to plant thoughts in our mind.
They do so with humor,
by tugging at our heartstrings, sometimes by shocking us and even (especially) by
appealing to our fleshly appetites.
I realize that this
is a surprise to no one.
After all, that is what
they are paid to do.
Their task is to influence
you to purchase their customer’s products or services.
So if sexual
innuendos sell coffee, clothes or cosmetics then that is what they use.
They understand well
the power our thoughts have.
If a television commercial,
a newspaper circular or a widely circulated tweet is most effective in reaching
their target audience they are all over that particular media.
Slogans such as “I’m
worth it”, “You deserve a break today” or “So easy even a caveman can do it”
are well thought out for their effectiveness in causing you to react in a
certain way.
Imagine the outcome
of a man or woman who was free of all of these
influences and
instead spent their time in the Word of God and in
on-going intimate fellowship
with the Spirit of God.
They might be considered odd, peculiar or ‘out-of-touch’
by most people.
Yet all people are capable
of being deeply influenced, as we have seen.
But not all are
influenced by the Spirit of God!
I do not mean to say
that all advertising is evil.
It is not.
But it is meant to be
influential.
So, too, is the
Spirit of God.
Which will have a
greater influence on your thoughts this week?
Which will you follow
after?
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