Being Different

I was listening to Ron Hutchcraft this morning and I liked what I heard so I thought I would bring somewhat of a pretty similar message.  I think some believers have a problem with feeling like the odd person in the group.  We are all different; some of us are more liberal and some are more conservative, plus some may fall right in the middle but all of us may be believers.  Ron related this to baseball cards; the rare ones that are worth money and the common ones that are not worth near that much.  

These are my thoughts, think about this; there are multitudes of baseball cards out there but there are far less that truly stand out and are sought after.  You might say they are the odd ones, some being hard to come by.  The way I feel is this; some believers have different convictions than others and that may make them seem different than others.  Some seem to think we should all be like cookie cutter believers, talking, acting, dressing and responding somewhat the same.  The problem with that is if that were to happen, we would be like a bunch of robots or penguins or puppets.  Then there are those that study and read much more than others, who question things and then there are those that go with the flow, agreeing with most anything they hear.  There are some because of their convictions will not be able to agree with others and they may seem like the odd ones, but they may not be odd at all and they can all be believers.

No matter where you fit in this scenario, if you are born-again you are a child of God and He loves you very much.  Now this is where we need to be careful and we need discernment and wisdom so that we don’t get deceived following after false doctrines.  It would be good if we were all like the Bereans who listened carefully and then studied to see if what they heard was the truth.  All of us should do the same so that we don’t fall into the trap of the evil one, so we are not deceived at any time but especially now that we are in the end times.  

We have a warning in the word of God about this that we all should pay very close attention to.  The Bible says that in the end times some people will not put up with sound doctrine but will only listen to what their itching ears want to hear.  Many will only listen to the feel-good gospel, whatever that may be, but that is not the true gospel at all.

Read 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”  

Some will even listen to doctrines of demons, Paul’s letter to Timothy says in 1 Timothy 4:1-11, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.”

This teaches us that we need to be studied up in the scriptures.  This is Paul speaking to Timothy, also in 2 Timothy 2:14-19, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’”

Be careful who and what you listen to so that you are not deceived.  There are those that even know the word of God that can and will try to lead you astray, so be careful!!  I pray that this will be an encouragement and help and a blessing to whoever reads it.  Enough said, may the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day!!