To Make a Difference You Must First Decide to be Different - Encouragement Café - November 25, 2016

To Make a Difference You Must First Decide To Be Different
By Olivia Barnes
Friday, November 25, 2016

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.  Romans 12:2 KJV

This thought is entitled: To make a difference you must first decide to be different. 

The key words here are you must first decide. 

God has called us out to be set apart from the world (2 Cor. 6 v.17) but we must make a conscience decision to take the step to be different.  Lot is one of those characters in the Bible which warn us of how easy it is to stray from God, it is a slow fade.

In Genesis 13 we see Lot make a financially sound and sensible decision, a decision of convenience to move towards a rich, green environment by a fast growing and thriving city:

And Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  Genesis 13:12 KJV

But in chapter 19 we see he is now living in Sodom, he is no longer outside the city.  Between chapters 13 and 19 Lot allowed his environment to seep into his heart and mind, to change and influence him.  Lot decided to conform. 

Genesis 19:1 states:

And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom.  KJV

The fact that Lot is sitting in the gate indicates that he held a position of respect and authority within Sodom yet there were not 10 righteous found in the city (Genesis 18:32 and 19:13).  Lot held an influential position yet he did not guide people towards God.  

In Psalm 1 v.1 (KJV) it states:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Lot sat in the gates, he lived in the city.  Often we can think if I take on this role, if I take part in this activity, if I go there with them I’ll maybe get a chance to witness for God. 

But we must be different to make a difference. 

For God to be able to use us for His glory our actions must glorify Him, there needs to be something different about how we live.  We are the salt of the earth…

But if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.  Matthew 5:13 ESV

Read and considerIf Jesus Came to Your House by Lois Blanchard Eades.  

It is such a challenging thought: Do your daily actions and activities glorify God?

Christ will one day return on what will start as a normal, ordinary day, oh that we would not be ashamed of the situation/activity He finds us in.

Lord, give me your strength and courage to be different, to be separate, realizing that your opinion is the only one that counts.  Help me to stand out for you, to stand up for you regardless of the cost.  For whatever the cost it will be worth it all when I see you face to face.  In Jesus name and by His grace Amen.

© 2016 by Olivia Barnes.  All rights reserved.

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