Dare to Stand-Out From the Crowd

Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

English: Jeroboam’s idolatry, 1 Kings 12:25-33, illustration from a Bible card published 1904 by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everybody likes to fit in. Being with the in-crowd provides comfort and support for whatever the crowd is about. Standing apart from the crowd makes us feel exposed and vulnerable. Some will even deny who they are to fit in. When you are a Christian, denying who you are is very dangerous, because it means you have to also deny God. When we deny God, we also reject His will and blessings for our lives. We also put our future, families, friends and work at risk.

How many personal sorrows and national disasters could be prevented if Christians were willing to risk being different and do the right thing? We fear ridicule, ignoring the fact that it’s not our doctrine that we are to live, speak and preach. It is the doctrine and will of Almighty God. To fear Him, is the beginning of wisdom and personal power. To live in reverence and deference to anything or anyone other than God, is idolatry, which is forbidden in the first commandment.

The Bible gives us many examples of men and women of God who dared to stand out from the crowd. Names like Abraham, Noah, Daniel, David, Jeremiah and Paul are giants of the faith. Then there were men like Jeroboam, King of Israel. After the death of Solomon, the Kingdom was split into Israel and Judah. Jeroboam was king of Israel and Rehoboam, son of Solomon was king of Judah. Jeroboam didn’t want the people to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem, because he thought it would sway the hearts of the people toward Rehoboam. So he built two temples for the worship of the golden calf in his own territory, and told the people to worship there. Guess what? They obeyed the orders of the king, knowing that obeying the king meant worshipping an idol. The people were afraid to stand out by refusing to worship idols. What would you have done if you lived back then? What are you doing now?

Dear Christian, knowing that Jesus is the author and finisher of the faith we represent; knowing that when we deny who we are in Christ we also deny God and that denying God is idolatry, what then is our prayer? Our prayer is this: Heavenly Father, forgive us for having worshipped anyone and anything other than You. Give us a heart that loves and reverences you, and is glad to do your will. Help us to stand strong and victorious in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation in a wicked and perverse nation. Conform us to the image of Christ our Savior. Make us salt and light of the earth. Make us unafraid to speak Your holy and precious name. Lord, please grant this petition, in Jesus’ precious and mighty name we pray and say, Amen.

May these words educate and comfort you today. Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

– Verneda

Twitter handle: @vlights