Dare To Be Different

When you see this picture, what comes to your mind?


As for me...

I see a unique person. A walking Bible. A Christian.


Aren't we designed by God to look like this first of all, in His sight, then to everybody both believers and unbelievers. The Bible says in I Timothy 4:12, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 


We become someone different. But not just different or weird. We should be different in a way that we will shine in the darkness, just like in the picture. People can see Christ living in our lives. People can see how happy we are because there's someone who gives us joy no greater than anyone else has in this world. No matter what turmoils, problems, and challenges we face. It's not like we're living a light just to "show off" but this is a way that we can lead them to the real Saviour.


Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

That just means it's not just plainly winning souls or working hard for the ministry that can lead the lost to Christ. By living a sanctified life, a shining light, we can show them the true God not for our glory but for God's. Of course it is essential to share the gospel to someone who needs it, but without a sanctified life, it will be hard for us to show that God is God. How then can we show it? By our good works. And who will be glorified? God.


There are times when we feel so afraid to share the gospel to our friends and loved ones. Not because we can't speak the right things- the Holy Spirit guides our speech anyway. It is Him who guides us and should guide us and not our own. Sometimes it is because we're afraid that we might have a bad testimony to them. How can they believe if they don't see the light in us? And even if they don't think it that way, we are still afraid because we are guilty of it.


We Christians are separated from the world. We were crucified with Christ ever since we accepted Him as our personal Saviour. That's why we should live like Him. Hard but not impossible. When we surrender our lives to God, we will realize that He can change us more than we could ever imagine. And soon our light will shine bright and God will be glorified.


This is what I learned from here. You might have heard it a couple of times but I hope you were encouraged by this. Have a wonderful day!