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There are different kinds of different.
When you go to school, you will come to understand this. Some kids will dress differently, listen to different music, and maybe even talk differently from most everyone else. These are kids who are different for the sake of being different. This is not the kind of different I’m wanting you to be, nor that God wants you to be.
Then, of course, there will be kids who do everything that they can to “fit in”, in other words, be the same. They will try to dress the same, talk the same way, go all of the same places, and do all of the same things as each other. What these kids don’t realize (yet) is how silly they are all being. Unfortunately, that silliness can lead them to some places, and to do some things they really shouldn’t be doing. Ultimately, these kids will grow into adults who live their adult lives the same sad way.
There is a different kind of different from these. People who aren’t Christians are going to tell you that there are only those two, but there is in fact a third.
This different is the kind of different that God wants you to be.
God doesn’t want to hold you back from the “fun” things in this life. You can play sports, be in band, or even run for class president if you want to. You can date boys (as long as you are back by sunset!), hang out with your friends, and have sleep overs with your girl friends. There are all kinds of things that you can do that you’ll have fun doing, even as a teenager.
BUT…
When a sport that you are playing has a game or practice during a time that we are supposed to be assembled with God’s people, dare to be different! (Hebrews 10:24-25)
When the band kids are misbehaving on a trip (whatever it may be), don’t join in with them, but dare to be different!
When you are successful as a strong leader among your peers, don’t’ forget the kind of strong Christian woman that God wants for you to be. Don’t cave to the pressures of pleasing them, when you know you shouldn’t (James 4:17). Dare to be different!
When you discover boys (or rather, when they discover you), and one asks you out on a date, ask yourself: “Is this the kind of person I would want to be with for the rest of my life?” No matter how cute, smart, or funny he is, if he isn’t material that could become a Christian man and father, don’t waste your time (2 Corinthians 6:13-18). Remember, you are going to marry someone you date. The other side of that coin is this: you won’t marry someone you don’t date. It can save you heartache. Look for a man willing to live by this standard: 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Dare to be different.
Likewise, when you do find a guy worth dating, don’t ever think that you are better than your temptations. It may mean that you need to make decisions that seem extreme to all of those people who are the same as everyone else (Matthew 5:29-30). That’s why your mother and I have rules for your dating practices (2 Timothy 2:22). Dare to be different.
When your girl friends want to go some place and “hang out”, but you know what will be happening is not something that God would want you to do, be willing to say no to your friends. Maybe it’s watching a movie you know that God wouldn’t want you to see, maybe there will be boys… I don’t know what might happen, and you don’t either. Maybe it’s a party, prom, or a trip. Even if you aren’t participating in whatever they are doing, don’t go there.
Be prepared, because they will probably try to make you feel stupid or silly for your decision (1 Peter 3:14). They will claim that you “just think you are better” than they are. You, I and God, know this isn’t true. It will hurt. But realize that (as hard as this is at a young age) it really doesn’t matter what they think! It only matters what God thinks. Dare to be different.
I could go on and on with things not to do, but here are a few guiding principles. Use these thoughts as a basis to guide your decisions:
- Remember: It’s not about “happiness” on this earth, but it’s about Heaven for Eternity. Keep your mind on that goal (Philippians 3:14).
- Ask yourself: If I do this/go there/say this, is it showing that I love God to others, and more importantly, to God (1 John 5:3)?
- Never be ashamed to do what is right. Being ashamed to make the right decision is the same as being ashamed of God (Mark 8:36-38).
As a matter of fact, if you are asked to take a stand on any sort of moral issue, always stand for the truth! dare to be different!
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
(9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
P.S. – Don’t’ by different by yourself, though. Find God’s special people – His Church!
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