Standing Out

Defining non-believers vs. yourself. Can people even accomplish that? What specific thing, or lack thereof makes the difference that strangers can know for a fact that you are different. Is it the intentional smile, or wave? Or the genuine interest in someone's day?

I strongly believe that, as Christians, we must stand out. This doesn't mean standing outside of a huge crowd. No, not physically standing out, but standing out. Being different.


If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what
good is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

Luke 6:32-36


Luke is saying that when we love only those who show love back to us, we imitate the 'sinners.' 

It means we are not different. Not set-apart as "Holy," or standing out in any way, but J U S T LIKE THEM. We imitate them! Those that we bash, and judge, and condemn are the exact same as us. So we are really just bashing, judging, and condemning ourselves.

We as Christians stand out, when we love those who show not a hint of love back. Those who do everything they can just to hurt you. Those that make the hairs on your back stand because you can't stand them. Those who put you down again and again just to make themselves feel better. 

These people we are to love.

Jesus did not come to heal the healthy but the sick. Yal, these people are so sick. They are so lost. They hate and hate and hate, but when it comes down to it, they are dying inside. We can be apart of that healing process that only occurs through Jesus. BUT, it only happens when we stand out, defining ourselves as His ambassadors with a sole mission: take love to the world. 

Take it. Run with it. Give it away freely. Regardless of the condition, the circumstance, the person, the soul, give His love. 

Stay away from the unhealthy imitations of the 'sinners.' But rather, stand out. Define yourself as set-apart, not only in your eyes, but in the eyes of every single person around you. Be different. Your identity and eternal life are secure in Jesus Christ. So why worry? Why concern our hearts with the way others view us while neglecting something that is already secured? 

Love, do good, give without expecting repayment. The hardest people to love are the ones we are to wrap our arms all the way around. 

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