dare to be [different]

I find myself getting worked up when young people struggle to be different in a world full of sin.  Why do they even want to be like the world?  Why do they long for the acceptance of one who isn’t headed in the right direction?  And besides, who granted a few people with the job of saying that some are ‘in’ and others aren’t?

 

I find myself angry when I realize that I am there too!  Why do I struggle to be different?

When I look at what Christians receive at the end of their lives verses what the world receives, it makes me feel stupid…why would I even consider going on a path like that? 

 

The truth is, we really don’t want to go down that road.  What we really want is acceptance from a group of people or we want to look cool!  But seriously!  What does it matter if I look cool to my neighbor, classmate, or youth group? They are not the ones that will be telling me “well done my good and faithful servant.”  What could they say anyway? 

“Good job, man!  Way to go on making the sports team and for having a sense of fashion.  You have served your Father well.  Enter into Heaven now!”

 

God’s Word is what matters and His plans for you are powerful!  Please don’t miss them because you’re fooling around with finding your place in the world.  This world is not our home, we are just passing through. 

 

Lately I have wrestled with what it means to be different.  There are many ways that we can be different and some are great while others aren’t the most beautiful.  So, I took a look at the dictionary definition of different…[here are some of the descriptions]

 

:different:

[unlike in nature or quality]

 [DISTINCT]

[UNUSUAL]  [SPECIAL]

 

There have been many times that I ask God what He means when He says that we are to be different…and one of the things that He has shown me time and time again is that I need to be willing to do whatever He has for me.  It’s kind of hard to know how that is different, but it is.  There are tons of people out there that live their lives the way they want to just because it’s what they want…but for me, as a Christian, I am commanded to do my Father’s work and that is being different [or place whatever descriptive word in there from the definition].

 

I am not some super woman telling you how you can be different, that’s for you and God!  But I want to challenge you to search your life and ask God to show you where you can be different.  It’s not going to be easy to stand out and be different, but it’s worth it!

 

I want to leave you with some words that God has given me recently.  Each day I am challenged to live like Christ and be the one to shine His light in this dark world!

 

The streets are crowded with tons of people.

There are mouths that long to be fed.

The lonely cry out for healing.

The children long for love and the darkness weighs heavy all across the land.

 

Who will be the one to walk the streets and feed the hungry?

Who will be the one to comfort the lonely and pray for the sick?

Who will love the children and bring light to this dark world?

Who will be the one to share of Calvary?

 

What if these people come and go and they never know that part of history?  He died for more than just you and I…He came for the lost and we need to be willing to be different and be the ones to share the Gospel to every tribe and every nation!