Rule 2: Stand out!
I had a convicting experience this year when I went to visit my girlfriend, Ebony, at work. She works for NCSU (I work for UNC, a rival school), and the day I visited her, I wore some UNC paraphernalia. I’ll never forget the feeling I got as I walked through NCSU’s campus; the more red I saw, the more ashamed and embarrassed I was about my attire. I even got a little nervous because I thought everyone would notice the UNC logo on my shirt. I distinctly remember walking with my head down so I wouldn’t make eye contact with any NCSU students.
As I reflected on this experience, I couldn’t help pondering how easy it is for Christians to hide the LIGHT in us. Just think about it. Have you ever eaten with people who don’t bless their food and followed their lead? When your co-workers or friends gossip, do you add your “two cents” or walk away remembering that everyone is a work in progress? When someone shares their difficulties, do you offer to pray for them or just listen, expecting time to heal their wounds? When people worry about the rising cost of living, do you panic, or do you rejoice knowing GOD will supply your needs? It’s easy to blend in with the crowd, and if we’re not careful, conformity can become habitual.
The passage listed above, however, is a reminder that GOD didn’t call us to be “closet” Christians. HE called us to stand out from the crowd, to let HIS presence be evident in our lives. So stand out; “let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16, New Living Translation).
Stand out!