Stand out

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6-13-19 Thursday

 

We all want to stand out in the crowd… unless our zipper is down, then no… our zipper is down and we have pink underwear on… definitely no… pink underwear with yellow duckies… we would rather die than stand out. 

 

TDAGiantslayer@gmail.com

 

 

I believe most of us want to stand out for something… typically it is for our own selfish desires- stand out to look cool, be admired or envied… but what about standing out for God?

 

UNIQUE

Similarity and Dissimilarity, Standing Out

The only thing more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack is finding a needle in a needlestack. When an object is surrounded by similar objects it naturally blends in, and when it is surrounded by dissimilar objects it naturally stands out.

 

Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert, pg. 168

 

 

It’s not hard to stand out for God… just simply do the opposite of what the world does. Here is an example out of Matthew 5

 

 

 

Matthew 5:43-47

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

I think we miss a simple subtle point here- 

Jesus is not saying stand out by raising the dead, preaching turn or burn or by avoiding all sinners or evil people. The truth is he is saying your difference is by simply loving those others don’t love.

 

I have made it a point to love fat ugly women… There is a very close personal story behind this (for another time… maybe) but anyway I have always made it a point to love on the women that the world would say is unlovable. 

 

I have made it a point to love my muslim neighbors and people in my network.

 

I have made it a point to love any and all ethnicities, colors creeds and people of other religions.

 

I have made it a point to love those who are politically opposite of me.

 

I have even made it a point to love my extended family… we know that some of them are the easiest to hate.

 

IF WE AS MEN OF GOD ARE GOING TO STAND OUT- LETS STAND OUT FOR LOVING THE OVERLOOKED, THE HATED AND THE DIFFERENT.

 

This last verse says be ye perfect as Jesus is perfect… WOW!

but what he is saying is that Love is perfect, and loving everyone is Gods perfect way. Practice perfection… practice loving everyone! 

 

Todays challenge? Ask yourself this question… do you blend in with the world? if so…. then change it! Stand out for God by loving everyone!