Think back to your high school years. Do you remember when everyone wanted to be a part of the popular crew? Many, maybe even you, changed their fashion style, taste in music, or even moral convictions in hope of being deemed worthy of befriending. Fortunately, once many of us left school, the power of blending in lost its strength and we committed to being our true selves. Though some have remained uniquely themselves, it seems as though many of us have fallen back into the toxic trait of conformity over the years. What on earth happened to us? Why do we crave, so badly, to be like the majority? Why do we hate the confrontation or isolation that being different can bring? Why is the sacrifice of morals and faith a common casualty in this battle? Why aren’t we glad to be set apart?

“And so those whom God set apart, He called; and those He called, He put right with Himself, and He shared His glory with them.” – Romans 8:30

When I think about being set apart, this verse immediately pops into my head. It’s simple, isn’t it? Those who have been set apart are the ones called by God to do His will. They are the ones justified by grace and deemed righteous. They are the ones thrilled to have their lives point back to Him. Despite how beautiful this promise from God sounds, many of us push it away easily. It saddens me deeply, to be honest, to see how much we blend in. We put glory on the back burner for quick thrills. We disregard reverence of God for the sake of not offending people. We placate unbelievers with half truths in hopes of maintaining the peace. I too am guilty of this. We never want to look like the bad guy. We never want to cause pain to someone. We never want to be disrespectful. As a Christian, we shouldn’t want to be those things. In the same way Jesus operated out of love and respect towards others, so should we. The question, however, still remains. If we all follow the ways of the world, how can the distinct beauty and truth of God be shown through us?

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” – 1 John 2:15-16

Showing the distinctive beauty and truth of God goes much deeper than simply not participating in acts such as premarital sex and getting drunk. It goes beyond checking off some “good Christian” checklist.  The glory of God is shown most often through our love and self-discipline, even in the simple things. In a culture of lying, do you attempt the stay truthful and walk in integrity? In a culture of “doing me,” do you choose to submit your will to God’s? In a culture of spilling the tea, do you walk away from gossip or even discourage others from doing it? In a culture of “God forgives but I don’t,” do you take the initiative to forgive someone simply because you know how often God forgives you? It’s crucial, especially in a time where God is deemed unnecessary at best and nonexistent at worst, that we stop hiding the glory displayed through us. If we blend in, there’s nothing about us that draws someone to Him. If people don’t see the help, power, and purpose of God shown through us, then what’s the point of even doing this Christian walk?

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:22-24

This post, simply, is a call to action. It is time for all of us, myself included, to be more intentional about pointing back to Him. The allure of the world can easily draw us in because it speaks to our flesh. As flawed people, all we want is for our flesh to be satisfied. God’s love, however, is greater than our fleshly desires. The deep love He has for us, to the point of fighting for our salvation (John 3:16), is not something we should be taking lightly. In the same way that God fought for our love, He is fighting for those who still don’t see His value. We, as His children, need to be living and breathing examples of that value. We need to be willing to share how God saved us. We need to be brave enough to break from the trend and honor God. It isn’t about following a rule book and not having fun. It’s about reverence and gratitude. Its about submitting the power of your flesh to the righteousness of God. Let your life showcase His power. Let His truth speak louder than the world’s voice. Let the beauty of God shine through you. Be proud of the victor God called you to be. There are countless lives depending on it, whether they realize it or not.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

 

Stay lit, twenty somethings 💕