Have you ever had those times where you try so hard to fit in, but with no success? You tried everything you could, been all you could be, acted all you can act, said all you can say, but you just can’t fit in with that particular group you so want to be with.
I certainly have. Seriously, I did all I could to fit in, but I just could not succeed. But pretty soon I asked myself: WHY do I want to fit in? Should I fit in? What does fitting in look and feel like anyway? Is it ever even really achieved?
Recently I began to think about my identity in Christ. As a Christian, I should care only about God’s opinion. People can give me feedback and stuff, but ultimately only what God thinks and says counts and has any lasting impact.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- Romans 12:2
We try to change so that the World can accept us. We spend so much time, energy, and effort to do so. And yet no success.
God has the solution. Why not channel the same effort to try to change towards HIS image, to what he wants us to become? We will feel at peace, I mean, only God’s perspective counts, right? And you can’t get more real than being a genuine follower of Christ. You should be so much absorbed into Christ that if people reject you for who you are, they are rejecting God for who He is. Don’t follow the pattern of this world. Be conformed to the pattern of God. Follow His ways, walk in His truths, see things from His perspective. You will feel no greater joy than to enjoy oneness with God… every day of your life.
We are called to stand out, not fit in. People will question why we choose not to be like the world, and there lies an opportunity to share Christ.
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’”
- Mark 8:34-38
I choose to be like Christ. I choose His perspective. I choose to reflect the image of God.
What about you?
amen! :)
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