Not Like Everyone Else

Not Like Everyone Else

2 Timothy 3: ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, ¹⁵ and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, ¹⁷ so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

 

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Hearing the lie said in the smooth delivery made me mad. I watched people fall for the lie and was amazed! I got up and told the truth and was met with criticism. “You are just jealous” is what someone, who was brave enough, said to me. “I wonder if I should start lying” was my thought.

 

• I was tired of bad people getting ahead.
• I was tired of being nice and finishing “last.”
• I was tired of being ignored because I was trying to be “good.”

 

Paul finishes his warning to Timothy regarding conduct. He had mentioned that there would be some people who would persecute, derive evil and be deceitful. “But as for you” he says to Timothy. He tells Timothy there is another path.

 

My Observations

• When other people are acting deceitful or imposing persecution or manipulative, GOD wants me to “continue in the truth.”
• When it seems like everyone else is going one way that does not include JESUS as GOD and LORD of all, HE wants me to stand firm in the scriptures that HE inspired.
• When I need to make a decision to be popular with a lie or be unpopular with the truth in scripture, GOD wants me to choose the unpopular route.

 

Believing in JESUS does not make people popular. In fact it seems quite the opposite. People run in the other direction at the mention of scripture or JESUS. BUT GOD wants everyone to understand HIS love and HE inspires many writers to speak about JESUS.

 

GOD’s revelation of HIS SON equips me for life’s traps and trials. When times were difficult, I can look back and see that HE was with me and that following the scriptures was all I had during times of deep trouble. I am so glad GOD has given us the scripture to help me live a life pleasing to HIM.

 

Challenge

• What truths is the writer talking about?
• Does “relative truth” scare you?
• Will you continue in the truth of JESUS, our LORD and Savior, by studying HIS word and gaining useful wisdom that leads you to salvation and becoming fully qualified and equipped today?

I’m slowly becoming me.

1 John 5: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.

³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

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Combing my hair wasn’t my strength and my clothes may have been a little tattered but I still wanted to participate in “the group.” I changed my clothes, combed my hair and soon found out it wasn’t good enough. I then changed my glasses, lifted weights and I fit in a group I didn’t like.

Will I ever be “accepted” in this world?

·         Sometimes I don’t feel like I fit in.

·         Sometimes I think I would be better off if “that group” would just accept me.

·         Sometimes I fall into the trap of running after people who are not worth running after and I leave GOD out of the relationship.

Many times I beat myself over the head trying to be what someone else wanted me to be. I tried to fit in and found myself not liking “me.” Even in church I had a difficult time being “me” because I felt wrong all the time. I mean it seemed like I was never going to reach my destination anyway so why try? BUT GOD says different.

·         GOD says “Everyone who believes that JESUS is the CHRIST is born of GOD.”

·         GOD says “Everyone who loves the FATHR loves HIS CHILD as well.”

·         GOD says “Everyone born of GOD overcomes the world.”

I then realized GOD made my relationship easy.  HE didn’t lump the burdens of physical buildings and structured programs on me, rather HE gave me a simple message “GOD loves me and HE loves you.” You mean I don’t have to be like those people over there? Yes!

GOD made me special and only I can do the tasks HE planned for me. It matters not how accepting the world is of me, what matters is my belief in HIM who saved me.

·         Are you tired of running after people who are not accepting you?

·         Are you tired of trying to please everyone?

·         Can you stop trying to be something different and be what GOD wants you to be?