dare to be DiFfeReNT!!?

'Proverbs', a book from the Bible, is one of the most brilliant books in it. If anyone, and I mean, anyone has a copy of the same, it has answers to life's many questions', if it is read and “acted” on.

However, something that I recently read from it was to "not move the boundary stones, marked by ancestors" (Proverbs chapter 22 verse 28 & chapter 23 verse 10). Well, it prompted me to think, beyond the normal setting of a plot, a fence, neighbors, etc... connecting me with one of my favorite quotes from a poem- 'Mending Wall' by 'Robert Frost', (7th or 8th grade (think)), "Good fences make good neighbors!".

From a Christians’ point of view, be it 'well-marked’ boundary stones, 'fences', 'limits' and then, 'privileges', the life of one is similar, i.e. 'a life of separation'. In the book of Corinthians, from the Bible, (1 Corinthians 6:12 & 10: 23), Paul says, "Everything is permissible for me"- but not everything is beneficial/ constructive" & "Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything".
I can smoke, but choose not to do so... I can drink and get intoxicated, but choose not to! I can do a lot of things that every person in the world does, but I choose to be separate, a different person for Christ. On a higher note, I can hate, behave badly, and the likes, But I choose to render kindness, instead. I choose to forgive/ love and in turn, live, glorifying my Father in heaven.

But, nowadays, these so called boundaries/ separation limits of Christians are being tampered with, to a large extent. These limits have been moved to such distances where the reasons why they were set up diminished. And what do Christians reason it on? Liberty! The freedom that God has given us, through Christ Jesus! This so-called freedom is being highly mis-used or "it's Ok'd" by Christians. For example, can anybody come and partake of the Lord's Table during worship? Well, it looks like, anybody can! People who don't even know the significance of what's being done, come to the church and knowingly to unknowingly partake in what 'the Creator of the Universe' shattered his life for.

'Dressing'/ 'the conduct'/ 'the respect' for the presence of the Lord have become issues that 'need not be addressed'. "Leave it, forget it", they'd say, "these are trivial issues! We have bigger things to look into". Well, the bigger things cannot be taken care of, and these 'petty issues' are overlooked. Hence, in the long run, Christianity is not being respected by people in/ outside the 'fold'. I won't be surprised of a day when there will be someone who would come into a church, pull out a cigarette and have a puff while listening to the sermon. There are many who go to church 'drunk' or 'drugged' already, so what's the big deal in a 'puff', eh?? Well, again, I'd say, Christians have been good at 'letting go', that they have not noticed when all these "upgrades" have happened in their own spiritual setting.

‘Be modest in your dressing’. I don’t think I’ll be a friend to many, after this paragraph. Some of my friends while at college came to church because they got to see the skin!! For the ladies/ girls, I don’t know why they are called ‘necklines’, because the neck is nowhere near! Guys/ Men, trends in fashion do happen. You don’t need to try everything to church. People could shop off your body, in regards to accessories, chains, check designs for tattoos, etc… Dress up modest, people. M O D E S T! ‘Modern’ is the word of the World. ‘Modest’ is the word of ‘the Word’!!

The ‘difference of Christ Jesus’ in one, is the difference! He is our role model. When the whole world went in one direction, Christ walked against the tide. He taught his disciples to act, behave, feel, speak & think differently! Be the difference!! From a recent sermon, I would like to quote the brother (Al Martin, Trinity Church, USA) who said, “Society has degenerated in two areas of ‘decided modesty’ & ‘distinctive femininity/ masculinity’ that it is presently squeezing some Christians into its mould which is contrary to Romans 12 verse 2, which says “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this World, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know God’s will for you which is good and pleasing and perfect”.

Be different, Christians!! Christ has liberated us completely in our thoughts, but we should know where/ when/ and why we should apply the brakes in our acts. Dude/ Gal/ Man/ Woman/ Child, Think about it!!
Yes, it's all about the heart, the act outside has relevance too~

If Christians cannot see what’s happening, let me draw your attention to this. By moving boundary stones, broadening our mind, furthering limits and enlarging our ‘Yes-nodding’ levels, and while Christians “unknowingly” follow what the World does, the devil is abusing ‘tolerance/ acceptance’ levels. Later, when the Anti-Christ starts reign, and if there are some left here, and when we he forces his ‘stamp’ on everyone, it will not be a ‘put-your-foot-down’-matter-of-rejection for us. Why??? It’s OK!!! God will understand. Not a big deal!! If God won’t understand, who will?? (Those last few sentences were nothing, but sarcastic.), COME ON!!!


A few tips that could help, is:

1. Follow the Bible- word to word + sensibly: Scripture is God- breathed (think of the breathing action- it means that the exhale is the ‘Word of God’) & not just what ‘Paul’ or the other authors have written. The ‘Word’, is God!


2. A Sunday School chorus that makes much sense, “Read your Bible, pray everyday; it will make you grow/ Neglect your Bible, forget to pray, it will make you shrink”. Simple, yet tough, but FOLLOW the highlighted part.


3. Be part of a Bible based church having proper Word-based teachings, not those where the people only preach about ‘Prosperity’/ or hint at you of the huge debt that the church has (every Sunday), or just hearing what’s acceptable to your ears. When God speaks, it might not be good for your ears, but it will patch up some heart’ issues. Check & explore on the Word you hear, Christians. Smart work, smart work!!


4. Repent: Go to Christ in faith & repent for having carelessly or unwillingly allowed to be sucked into the Worlds’ standards.


5. Bring about the good fruits: Pray & labor to cultivate a sensitive and well-instructed conscience before the Lord, in these regards.

Children of God, read to understand:
(Romans 12: 2, Bible), as it says, "And be not conformed to this World: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.")

May God bless~

Immersed

Was sitting for prayer with my wife, on 30th of December 2009. Even on the 2nd last day of the year, insight from the Word of the Lord was fresh like the 'manna' (food) that the Lord had given the Israelites- time back. However, we read the portion from Psalm 42 in the Holy Bible that said "As the deer panteth for the streams of waters, so my soul longeth after You..."

I was reminded of an instance when one of my friends' shared the details of the setting: What/ why the deer panted/ yearned for the waters? I listened as he said, that when a deer runs away from his predator when the game is on, the deer searches/ is desperate for the 'streams of waters'. Why??? Do you think it is 'thirst' that is the ultimate intention of the deer?? Is its run only to quench its thirst? Well, NO... and as i heard a new verity, it enlightened me. The scent that comes off the deer is what gets the predator to the deer, along the hunt, and, why the deer craves for the streams is to hide itself, immerse itself in the water, so that its scent wears off...

Now this is what the Psalmist longed for, to get immersed in the streams of God's presence, to get unnoticed by His enemies, to not let out the scent to the hunting party. The Psalmist wants to be fully immersed in God.

Can this be our thought throughout the New Year- to be immersed in God?
When we are fully dipped in Him, or in things that interest Him, the enemy doesn't get our scent. Your odour would be that of a 'godly', contradicting from that of the Worlds'.

Stay Immersed, in the Lord Jesus Christ!