Day 3135 of the 7 day Bible verse challenge.

1 Corinthians 1:28 NIV

This world has been invited to lose its grip, its influence, its pressure, its insistence upon us being only what they want us to be so that they can continue to be only all they’ve chosen to be.

But for us to find that freedom demands first we accept His gift of redemption from all we’ve been. Because it’s only on the other side of a cross planted on a hill for all the world to see that we can see that we’re invited to be all that nullifies this world’s audacious and arrogant assumption that they’ve the right, the ability, the authority to tell us who to be and how to live.

Through Christ we're chosen to be everything everyone says we shouldn't be, all to be living proof that everything everyone says we should be isn't at all worth being as it only keeps us from living.

You see, we find ourselves lost in this world that prides itself on this illusionary sense of power which allows the masses to determine and dictate what's considered acceptable, what's worthy of attention and applause, what's valuable in terms of success and what's therefore deemed of greatest importance.

But ironically, those decisions are based solely upon human interpretation which hinges entirely on the sinful selfishness that's forever been allowed to thrive within the wayward hearts and wandering minds of those happily lost inside a hollow life misspent serving only themselves.

And it's that life that we've all lived that ironically now affords us the chance to change into evidence of the changes only God can make.

Because since our pasts have been lived imperfectly, we're now perfect evidence of the perfect mercy of our perfect Savior. Because we've lived among the masses, we now bear the markings which form the scars that stand as proof of the healing we obviously couldn't bring ourselves as we ourselves allowed those mistakes. Because we've walked and talked, taught and thought like those around us for as long as we have, that we venture unto a new path in a radically different direction testifies that He's begun a good work in us.

All because we have decades of proof which now stands as almost endless evidence of just how much like the world we've been, but that because of the cross, we're now able to walk a different line living a different life that shines effortlessly for all to see who have eyes to see and heart willing to consider the freedom they’ve not yet found in a life controlled by the pressures of world only pretending to be powerful.

See, that's the sad outlook of almost all of humanity. That's the prize beheld in the eyes of those looking to appease those who they think are looking at them. It's this great concern for appearing to be acceptable and successful and valuable in the eyes of those who we've been convinced to believe have the power to determine our worth. Down here it's always been all about fitting in.

And should any find the audacity to do otherwise, well you can bet they'll stand out like a black sheep the instant they break from the herd.

But sadly I think we often undervalue or underestimate or underappreciate the opportunity we have to be different. That's considered a scary thing in this place anymore. It's seen as tragedy to be unwelcomed and unaccepted in this place fueled by successful social interactions. To be a loner is to be a loser, and a loser never wins which is all that matters to a culture who thinks they've nothing to lose despite them finding nothing worth having in having to make sure they live their best life.

Yes, it's that idea of a best life that's been shoved down our throats so deeply that we're choking on missed chances that could have helped us change before the world chastised us for even considering it. Not supposed to consider being different, just expected to do as we're told without ever asking any questions, voicing any concerns, having any of our own considerations.

No, just fall in line and go where pointed by those to whom we've bowed down to the point of allowing them to lead if not live our lives for us. All so that we could be what everyone says we should be so that we could be embraced by a place that doesn't care whether we're here or not. They just want clones, drones droning their way through a hollowed-out existence free from independence replaced by dependence upon the decisions of those we're told to live to please.

The world makes it clear what's expected of us for us to be accepted by them. And like it or not, that's a game we've all played. We've all tried to be what the world wanted us to be. We've lost bits and pieces of ourselves in order to soften our edges so we could round the corners on our way to where they told us to go while being sure we’d be what they wanted us to be when we got there. We've played into their pretending to have the power they appear to have.

And well, it takes a gang of socially awkward and rebellious ruffians to prove it's all a farce.

It takes a horde of the unamused to stop worrying about appeasing those who don't have the right to tell us who to be or how to live. It takes a few willing to lose all this social validation to prove we never needed it to justify our existence in the first place. It takes those unafraid to admit they've lost so much of themselves in order to fit in that they are now just lost and don't know where to begin trying to find whatever might be left of the hope they think they once knew.

Yes, it takes those bold enough to admit they're lost to finally be found. Because once we can allow ourselves to admit we've given too much time and attention to a world with too little reward or opportunity, only then can we begin looking in the right direction which will eventually lead to our understanding that a Savior came to this earth for just that reason: To seek and save the lost souls lost adrift atop all this endless foolishness they've been bogged down into believing.

And it’s only once we find that we've been found that we find that we have the opportunity to be everything this world says we shouldn't be. But not just for ourselves, but also so that whomever dares be different themselves might find the courage to do so amidst endless reasons not to.

In Christ we see that it's through a willing heart now unwilling to remain inside the status quo that the world around us can see that they too no longer have to settle for being told how to live and who to be by a world filled with nothing but mere humans. In Him we see that it's not only okay to rebuke the pressure to fit in, but it's encouraged. In Him we see that rebellion against the powers that be only pretending to be in power, as they have none, is the only proper way to both find and follow the proper path.

Yes, in Him, when He's in us, we finally become bold enough to stop letting the world tell us anything. All because once He's our everything, well, we just don't need anything this world offers in exchange for our willingness to surrender our lives to their input.

They can keep it. Do with it as they please. Couldn't care less, because of eyes now able to see we never had to care to begin with.

Yes, that's my new side-quest along this mission I'm given to give my life to a cause greater than myself. It's sort of this corresponding and perfectly befitting bonus that I've found to be of great excitement. Not only do we get to serve Christ through living to testify to the good work He's begun inside of us through the sharing the Good News of the Gospel of the God who came to save us which now has us fishing for men so they too can find the hope He’s placed inside us which sets us to set our sights on more than some measly home in this heap we'll soon leave behind us.

But we also get to disappoint the rest of the world in the process.

We get to, like Jesus, tick off those who pretend to have the right to tell us what's right. Because He has determined that and thus nobody else has a voice in the matter. And thus this world has lost the ability to rule over us like we've allowed them to do throughout our pasts spent lost trying to lose everything they said we couldn't keep, couldn't be if we were to be welcomed while we're here.

Because in Him we now know we ain't staying, so why worry about it anymore?

That we get to do everything they say we shouldn't brings an incomparable joy in the ability to prove them wrong. Because we know how much the world hates losing, bring proven foolish, being proven wrong. And this narrow path He’s paved for us allows us to be all they hate as we get to be all they can only pretend to be.

We can be lowly. We can we rejected. We can be hated. We can be misunderstood. We can be mistreated. We can be excluded and excommunicated. We can walk alone. We can walk away. We can live without all that so many are convinced they can’t lose.

We can walk a narrow path. We can avoid selfish pursuits. We can live self-controlled lives in this selfish age. We can embrace responsibility. We can live in endless humility. We can break the chains of bondage to all that everyone else is happily addicted to. We can turn away from the broad road that leads to destruction. We can speak in a different language aimed at pleasing His ears rather than the itching of those around us.

We can study Scripture with the desire to carve it on our hearts so that nothing is allowed in them without passing the truth test. We can divide ourselves from the ways of this world by setting our minds to coming out from among them. We can leave behind all we've been in a life trying to be all we now know shouldn't have even been considered. We can deny and reject every single invitation to every single opportunity to win every single prize this world offers to those willing to lose their souls.

We can boldly deny every suggestion as to how to live and who to be. And we can offer a suggestion of our own: Look and see what He's done in me, and if you don't like what you see then let me be so that I can be what He's made me.

Because for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. It's that kind of wayward thinking that we find isn't so weird after all as we grow in Christ. At first, it does seems strange. Gaining through death? Living for another? A living sacrifice? Lay it all down? Let it all go? Smile all the while? Insanity, right?

You better believe it! And that's the only title I want from this warped and wicked world anymore. Insane. Crazy. Foolish. Unacceptable. Unwelcome weirdo. Jesus freak. Bible thumper. Loser. Because those all sound beautiful when coming from the lips of the lost who are adamant to stay here living a lie.

Knowing what this world expects and accepts, I want to be as hated and rejected, refused and abused as I can be by those who know nothing of Jesus. Because He's all I want to know anymore. He's all I want to serve from now on. He's the only meaning in life as He's the only reason I'm still alive with the hope of eternal life. He's my goal, and because of that, and because of what the world did to Him, I know they ain't going to like me anymore either.

But I know now that I don't have to care. But I want you to know that neither do you.

We don't have to care about what this world thinks of us. We don't have to concern ourselves with what they'll say of us. We don't need to worry about what we're going to lose when we let go of trying to win in this place. We don't need to be liked, to be loved, to be accepted, to be applauded. Because we already are.

“There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7. We make Heaven rejoice when we admit we’ve need to repent followed by the strange boldness to see it through. Because that’s what Christ came to call us to do.

Because Jesus is the friend of sinners, and so He's a friend of mine. He’s friend of yours. He’s a friend to all who accept what they’ve become in trying to become what the world wanted them to be. He came so we could be different, and He offers us friendship in return for all the ‘friends’ we’ll lose in our walking away from the ways of the world.

John 15:15 says, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

But it doesn't just stop at friendship.

We see in Matthew 12:48-50 Jesus’ response to being told that His mother and brothers had come to see Him. '"He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”'

I need nothing from this world as He is my friend, my Savior, my Teacher, my family, my Father. And this world will have nothing from me expect whatever I can do to share all He is for all of us who are willing to be everything this world doesn't want us to be.

It's pretty amazing to feel Christ do what He's known for doing in our own lives. I've felt Him flip a proverbial table inside of my heart in that while I once died to fit in, now fitting in sounds like death to me. Don't want it, can't consider it, won't settle for it. Not knowing He's opened the door to something so much more.

Friends, let this world go do whatever it's going to do. And let them think you foolish for not following along. We know what awaits this place, and that's why we've pulled out of the race. Let them run ahead.

We've other things to do within this in-between as we eagerly yet patiently await the return of our King.

Be the lowly. Be the despised. Be so unwelcome and unwanted that they don’t even realize you’re here. Because in truth, in Christ, we’re not. We’re but a few breaths and a bit of ashes trying to tell the world that He’s coming back. We live to nullify the ways of this world by living against them to show that it can be done.

Because someone out there somewhere needs to see that there is freedom outside the embrace of a world falling apart. So be the different, because that’s the only way to make a difference.

#LeaveNoSoulUntold