Information Related to "Fitting In"
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Following God's way of life means standing out from the crowd
Have you ever felt like you don't fit in? If you have, then good! If we are followers of Christ and His truth, then we shouldn't fit in.
Christ said in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world” (KJV throughout). This world should rub us the wrong way, like a pair of new shoes that are too tight. If we feel comfortable in this world, like we are wearing a pair of old shoes, then something is wrong.
Growing up in the Church I always felt a little different. In elementary school I was the kid alone in the library while the class had a Christmas party. I was the kid who brought huge Matzos in my lunch at certain times of the year. I was proud of my Matzo and would gladly tell anyone who asked about Moses and the Days of Unleavened Bread!
I never played sports in school because the games were mainly on Friday nights. But I also remember I didn't mind being different! Christ was different and I didn't mind being different like Him.
High school was about the same. It seemed I really never fit in to any of the groups of what some may have thought were the "”cool kids”. I got along better with the teachers and enjoyed spending spare time with them more than hanging out with the kids my own age.
Thankfully I did have one “shining light” my freshman year. I walked into one of my classes and there was someone from church in my class! I was so excited! For once I wasn't the only strange one who kept the Sabbath, didn't eat the pepperoni pizza, and who left the school for two weeks after we just got started with a new year.
Now as an adult I still find times when I don't fit in. I can be at the park with other moms that complain about their kids, husbands and life in general and I feel out of place. I hear people talk about how important their jobs are, making money and the stuff they own, and I cannot relate. I don’t feel I am any better than they are; it's just that things that are important to me are not always what’s important to others around me. So again, I don't fit in.
But I am thankful I do not. Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. If I ever get to a point in my life where I feel like I am comfortable in this world, then I need to stop and pray and work on my spiritual life.
There is only one place we should worry about fitting in and that’s the Kingdom of God.1 Corinthians 6:9 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” And 2 Corinthians 4:4 reminds us about the god of this world:“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
The god of this world is Satan. He has blinded so many people and has them thinking about things that are not of God. He creates a school environment where our children cannot hear the Word of God. He fills our minds with terrible movies and music and calls it entertainment. He tells people they have the right to make choices that go against the laws of God.
So if you feel at times like you don’t fit in...good! Don’t compromise your beliefs; don’t try to fit into this world. You are not weird or strange if you are different. You belong to God, a loving Father who wants you to fit in to His Kingdom. That’s all that really matters!
To learn more about how Satan has shaped this world, request our free Bible study aid Is There Really a Devil?
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Other Articles by Tina Cason
Origin of article "Fitting In"
Keywords: peers being different different conforming
Teens and peer influence: