I want to be ‘Somebody’ or Part of Everybody?

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“All the other kids do it so why can’t I?” – Nathan said, as I questioned him on something he did.  He tries to defend saying “Mummy, because he did that to me”, with all the expressions and pointing fingers at the rest of the kids.  “It was never his fault”! Well, that’s what he wants me to think of him. How many of you have heard this elusive statement from kids when we ask them why they did certain things?

What if I told you that even we, like most kids, still play this blame game?!

“I have so much work that I am drained out by the end of the day. I just don’t have the time or energy to pray.” Does this statement sound familiar? This is just one of many other excuses we use so often. I struggle with this from time to time too.

I am not responsible for  the way I behave! My actions doesn’t reflect me but my circumstance. A Blame- game!

It’s so easy to blame someone or something else, than admit it’s my own fault.  At some point I have to stop this blame game and start taking ownership of my life and my actions. Well, this is something what I learnt from the scripture which helps me escape this unhealthy attitude.

Genesis 6:8, 9 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…..Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”

Did you read that? “Noah was blameless among the people of his time”. Noah lived during the time when wickedness was so great among people that God made a decision to wipe out human race from the earth.  The wickedness is described in Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.”

Yet there was one man who was separated and chose to stand out from the everyday crowd.

Noah is a perfect example of how, even though, he lived among corrupt people, he walked with God. He was one man who stood for God even when he was surrounded by evil all around. I’m sure he would have faced lot of pressure to do evil from his own community. His sons would have asked him several questions on why to hold on to integrity and struggle while there was an easy way out. Yet he stood for what he believed as right before God.

It is all about one’s choice on how to live our life. As New Testament believers, we have a choice whether to please God or ourselves. God is longing for those who make a willful choice to see Him.  Psalm 14:2 “The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.”

We can please God when we allow our choices to be coupled with our willingness to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Bible says in Romans 8:13, For if you live by its (flesh) dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”

Noah made a choice to walk with God. His heart was so drawn to Him. He chose to honor God, walk in His ways and preached righteousness. As a result of his faith, while every other men and women were destroyed, God saved Noah and his family from being destroyed. He found grace in the sight of God and his name is recorded in the pages of the Bible forever.

My choice to submit to God makes my life fruitful.

It is certainly possible to live a separated holy life even when we are in pressure situations. And the reward for that is exceedingly great!

From Conform to Transform

From ages, this is what has been required from people of God.

Romans 12:2 “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. “

The world has patterns of compromises between ‘good (right)’ and ‘evil (wrong)’. The dilemma of choice begins when we have to compromise on what we believe. We have a choice – we can either be ‘Conformers’ or be ‘Transformers’.

This means that we have to make a conscious choice as Children of God, not be drawn into what everybody else in the world does. Instead, train our minds to seek His perfect will and do it. Standing firm for the truth is not an easy task and sometimes we may find ourselves ‘away’ from the crowd with very little support. Praying for God’s grace in such times and will make us feel His awesome presence which is able to fill any void.

​It is the small battles of today that equip us for greater victories of tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord, as I surrender myself to you this moment, I pray that you would help me make the decision to be that ‘somebody’ who would want to be drawn away from the rest, with a purpose to seek you, know your will and walk in Your ways. Let my life be transformed into the person that you want me to be. In Jesus name, Amen

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6 thoughts on “I want to be ‘Somebody’ or Part of Everybody?

  1. I really love this. It’s so important that we internalize the message we send to our kids about stepping out from the crowd…especially for God.

  2. Phebe, this is a powerful message! As the mother of several teenagers, I’m consistently reminding them of this truth, “Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?” But you are correct that we struggle with this as adults too! We all want to have a sense of belonging. Yet, sometimes we can become so part of the group, that our individuality and voice God has given us can begin to fade. Great post!

  3. Love reading your thoughts again! ” Train your minds to seek his perfect will”. This is very important these days!

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