Be Different

As a child, my parents used to encourage me to be different, be unique; dare to not always go along with the crowd but to do my own thing. If everyone wanted blue shoes, it was anything but blue for me; when short hairstyles were “in”, mine was kept long; rock-n-roll music was “cool”, but it was still country for me. Then later as parents, my husband and I encouraged our children in the same way.

As spiritually-born followers of Christ, God calls us to be different, too. We are to stand out in a crowd so that the “Jesus” in us shines through. We are royalty, chosen, and called to live set apart from the ungodly world and praise our Saviour for all He has done for us; to live so His Light can be seen in and through us. Pride must be thrown out the door! This life is not about US, it’s about HIM. We were created for HIS purpose. Being different as a Christian is kind of an oxymoron … we are like-minded and one body … so in order to be different, we are called to be the same!

Romans 12:2 - “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.” Psalms 4:3 - “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” 1Peter 2:9 - “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

Song Lyrics: I don't wanna hear anymore, teach me to listen. I don't wanna see anymore, give me a vision, that you could move this heart, to be set apart. I don't need to recognize the man in the mirror and I don't wanna trade Your plan for something familiar. I can't waste a day, I can't stay the same. I wanna be different! I wanna be changed 'til all of me is gone and all that remains is a fire so bright the whole world can see that there's something different. So come and be different in me! And I don't wanna spend my life stuck in a pattern; and I don't wanna gain this world but lose what matters. And so I'm giving up everything because...I wanna be different. I know that I am far from perfect, but through You the Cross still says I'm worth it. So take this beating in my heart and come and finish what You started. When they see me, let them see You. I just wanna be different!