Stand Out

You live fully in Me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent Me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for Me.  John 17:23 TPT

Jesus, when You came, the people thought You’d overturn governments, but instead, You changed hearts. Will You change ours? Show us the places where fear and selfishness, comfort and politics have vetoed the power of Your love working in and through us. Yes Lord, our allegiance belongs to You. 

Wow, one under Christ. Like a marriage with two as one under Christ so are we, Christian brothers and sisters, one under Christ. 

Therefore let’s ask ourselves and answer honestly because God knows the real answer in our hearts.  

Are we more under the influence of modern culture than the influence of God? Are we entertained by Movies, TV shows that Jesus would most likely never turn on let alone sit through... Laugh at the jokes that are actually cruel and belittling to another ? Do we raise our kids the same way just to keep up the appearance of being a world loving open minded family ? Do we Base our moral actions on what culture says is okay?

If there’s little difference between the way we live and the world around us (besides those where we spend an hour a week on Sunday), we are probably under the influence of today’s culture. Oh God we are sure! Thank You for giving us a new day every morning, a new day to put You first and learn to walk in the ways of Jesus. 

Daniel made some culture-defying choices as a young man that made his life so amazing he has his own Old Testament book. Daniel was born as a Jew in Jewish culture but lived most of his life in the incredibly powerful culture of Babylon. 

Daniel 1:8 says Daniel resolved himself to live under God. 

If we’re going to live faithfully united, as brothers and sisters with Jesus Christ as our Saviour, our Messiah, under God in a culture that’s opposed to God, we’re going to have to make some predetermined resolutions. The gentle drift of compromise lures us out from under God’s will. The driving force of media and false worldviews leads us to believe things that simply aren’t in line with God’s truth.  

Matthew 28:18-20 TPT  Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All the authority of the universe has been given to Me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”

As Kingdom people, Christ’s chosen ambassadors, we live in the world, but we are not of it. We are different; we stand out. And our difference is meant to be for others. We are salt and we are light.

Jesus says it like this:

Matthew 5:13-16 TPT Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you, like salt, become bland, how can your ‘saltiness’ be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others. “Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”

What is Jesus talking about? This week I looked into that verse again, salt of the earth. Well, salt is meant to be noticeable. It’s supposed to add a distinct flavoring to things. It’s commonly recognized that there are five basic tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, savory, and salty. And did you know that saltiness is the easiest flavor for our taste buds to recognize? Is that true of us as Kingdom people?

Jesus didn’t say, “You are the sugar of the earth.” Go be sweet and kind. No, we are the salt of the earth. It should be easy for people to detect Holy Spirit within us, because we bring the distinctness of the Kingdom of God in how we carry ourselves and communicate!  

Jesus also refers to us, His united people, as the “light of the world,” and raises the point that no one would light a lamp only to hide it under a basket. It’s intended to provide clarity and visibility to the whole house! And so are we. As Kingdom people, we should have a clarifying effect on the people we meet. What we say and do should help them see God in their daily lives.

And that’s what Jesus says the result will be:

“... Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV

Kingdom people help the world detect God’s goodness and direct their attention toward their Father in heaven. But it requires boldness. 

Eohesuans 4:3-6 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We are called to live a life that stands out and shines bright. Thankfully, God has equipped us with Holy Spirit— He does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and the self-discipline to carry ourselves like Kingdom people—to be salt and light.

Let’s ask God for boldness to stand out and shine bright today! Together! As Christian men and women, who see Holy Spirit in another even when the methods we use to praise God, to study His word are different.