Devotionals
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BY COMMENTING
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE As A Member OR Visitor
Message Writer
Hire Writer
Report Article
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE As A Member OR Visitor
Message Writer
Hire Writer
Report Article
Different is okay now; but it wasn’t always.
Peer pressure is real. The pressures of elementary school seem tame when compared to the present, but they were intense then. A certain brand of tennis shoes, a particular name on my jeans, or letting the lazy students who were bullies copy my homework or gaze on my test. Pressures were more intense in the teen years. Drinking, smoking, and using drugs were the big three. In adulthood, the pressures became more subtle but were just as penetrating. Re-think what I believed about God, cheat on my wife, fudge on my income tax return, steal from the boss, and call in sick when I wasn’t. Sometimes I gave in because I didn’t want to be different.
Israel entered a period when they didn’t like different either. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel…Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have (I Samuel 8:4-5 NLT). Israel was a theocracy, so their request was a rejection of God. He granted their wish, but didn’t remove the consequences.
The nature of Christianity entails living differently. God requires me to separate myself from impure and unholy things (II Corinthians 6:17). At salvation, he pronounced me holy through my acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice, and living as if I’m holy should follow. I can’t shadow the crowd because the crowd might be wrong.
I’ll admit-different isn’t always comfortable. Peer pressure…in whatever form it appears, is sometimes difficult to resist, but God provides the strength I need to adhere to his guidelines. I may be labeled and avoided because I’m distinctive, but God places his soothing salve of comfort on rejection’s emotional hurts.
Is different okay for you? If not, trust God for the courage to let it be.
Prayer: We acknowledge, eternal God, Your call for us to act and think differently. Give us courage to follow You regardless of how it makes us appear to others. www.lovelinesfromgod.com
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 520 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Martin Wiles or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 520 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.