Where
do you fit? In His Word- 4-4-16
When
I was a child, as the middle child of the house I was often trying to find my
niche in the family. I wanted to be the one they all loved, so I tried to love
everyone. I failed of course because I am human. I wanted to be the talented
one, so I tried out for a play at 9 years old. We moved away before I got to go
on stage. I thought I could be the sporty one… I was fair at best in most
areas. The one time I actually made first place I never received the award as
once again we moved away. I think moving extended my feelings of being a ‘nobody’.
As a teen and I was constantly striving in my mind to become ‘somebody’. Yet no
matter how much I tried to become someone special I never could shine bright
enough to be noticed in the way I wanted to be; until the day I realized I
needed, wanted and had to meet Jesus and make Him my shining light.
Do
you think you are a ‘nobody’ to the world you live in? Do you have days when
you feel like if you left the world nobody would even notice?
Through
out time people have always been trying to fit in; they think, feel and act
like they need to be like everyone else. Kids try to act like one another,
adults try to live up to the standards of their peers, and teens dress to fit
in. My Bible tells me this is not needed anymore! I no longer have to express a
desire to look, dress or act like anyone but Jesus! We should all be able to
say that with conviction, the only one we have to measure up to is our Lord.
Once
you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no
mercy, now you have received God’ mercy.
1
Peter2:10
When
we realize just Who it is that has chosen to make us, to bring life to our
bones and breath to our lungs it should make a total difference in how we see
ourselves. After all we must be someone special if God called us, and more than
that suffered on the cross for us.
That
is sometimes hard to comprehend, that His suffering was for each of us. When we
have a hard day and things really ‘erk’ us; we find it hard to walk in our
calling.
For
God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered
for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned,
nor even deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted. Nor threaten
revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God who always
judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body to the cross so that
we an be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed.
Once you were like sheep who wandered away, but now you have turned to your
Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:21-25
Sometimes
we wonder if we are even worth it all to Christ Jesus. We wonder why He chose
us to be part of His family, His kingdom, His heart. Other times we wonder if
it is all worth the struggles, to be good, to be kindhearted forgiving one
another just like Jesus forgave us. Then stop and remember that He forgave us
first, and that we can only be good through Him. We are not alone in our
plight!
When
we struggle we have a God walking along with us to support us and help us
through the trials of the day.
So
be truly glad. There is a wonderful
joy ahead, even though you have to endure
many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is
genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith
is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through
many trials it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when
Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6-7
He
has called us to be as much like Jesus as we can humanly be so that we may
stand up to the pressures of the devil and his cronies in this world; He has
given us His armor to stand strong in the pressures of the world we live in.
Through the gift He has given us in the way of the
Comforter or the Holy Spirit we can stand strong knowing that God has not left
us to fend for ourselves or find our own way but has left us with a part of
Himself. This Holy Spirit will be our guide to all things that are good and
just and will help us be strong in our faith and to follow what is right; for
without Him we are nothing but with Christ we are everything!
Many of his
disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to
them, “Does this offend you? Then what
will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven gain? The Spirit
alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words
I have spoken to you are spirit and life.John 6:60-65
And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is,
in my sinful nature. I
want to do what is right, but I can’t… Thank
God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans
7:18-26
In and with
Christ all things are possible for us to do because He makes us able to do the
right thing, to become the man or woman He planned and to be sanctified and separate
put apart for Christ Jesus; He makes us special in His eyes and the rest really
does not matter to us.
Even so we
will fight a battle daily to walk in His way, to do His will over our own in
order to make the good and right choices. That’s why we must put on the armor
of God daily; for when we remind ourselves in the Word daily we will find the
way to stand strong in Him.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be
able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty
powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.Ephesian 6:10-12
Dear
Heavenly Father, help us today to be strong in You. Guide our steps and show us
where to walk, what to say, and when to be silent as we do our best with Your
assistance, to walk through our lives as you direct our paths. In Jesus’ name
amen.
Suggested
reading: 1Peter 2:1-:1-25 1 Peter 1:1-25
, Romans 7:1-25, 1 Peter 3:1-22 and John 6 : 1-65