Don't Be Normal. Be Different. Take the High Road.

I warn you! DON’T click on THAT link!!! Because I did. I clicked on a link that was in my timeline. The link led me to a well-known actor speaking at the Tonys Awards with such vile and profane words against our President that I quickly exited out. Here’s what God says to us about that:

~ Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
~ Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up that it may give grace to those who hear.”
~ Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
~ Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

How “different” are we from what is “normal” to others? Some say that “It’s NORMAL to say it like you feel it. It’s normal to be angry, speak hatefully about people, and on and on.” “Normal” to some is ranting and raving right along with everyone else who is just downright bitter about whoever and whatever.

"Normal” isn’t where God called us to be. He called us to live a radically abnormal life where kindness, love, joy and peace rules. Believing that way makes us not just different, but we are also difference makers. We take the High Road.

In Matthew 5, Jesus told us to be glad we are treated unfairly and wrong. What? THAT’S just not normal. In Matthew 5:11-15 He gave us a completely different way to handle those normally cranky folks. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

There are many differences to be found in devoted God-followers. These differences are seen in our relationship with God, in our place in the world, in our purpose in life, in our personal goals, in our commitments, in our motives, in our values, in our choices, and in our beliefs. One of the greatest differences is found in the attitudes of our hearts:

~ We are LOVINGLY different -- extending His love freely and unconditionally to others.
~ We are TRUTHFULLY different -- believing the truth and loving the truth, we speak the truth and live the truth.
~ We are MERCIFULLY different -- knowing that God’s mercies are new every morning, we extend His mercies to those who have failed and disappointed us.
~ We are PRAYERFULLY different -- we pray in faith, we pray because of who God is and what He can do, we pray because of what God has said in His Word. We pray because we have the assurance that God hears us and answers our prayers.

We are NOT normal. We are DIFFERENT, and DIFFERENT never felt and looked so good! I think I'll cruise on over to the High Road. How about you?

Let's Be Salt Sprinklers -- NOT Salt Dousers

While at my Austin family's home, twice, I intended to use this salt shaker to just sprinkle a little salt on the food, but twice the side which pours salt out, was open and twice -- the food was doused with salt!

We've heard the expression "That Rick is the "salt of the earth". What they were saying is Rick is reliable, dependable, trustworthy, honest and caring. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His followers, who were mainly fishermen and other simple people, “You are the salt of the earth." Matthew 5:13. And God tells us that, too! Paul the Apostle described it like this: "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." - Colossians 4:6

What this scripture is saying -- when we share our faith with others, it's like seasoning with salt. If we sprinkle a little salt on our food, it adds to the flavor of the food and it makes the food taste good. We really appreciate that. But if we pour salt on our food, it's hard to swallow, difficult to digest, and most certainly not good for the heart.

So, what does the world think when we season our conversation with too much talk about church and God, and we never talk about things we might have in common with them? They just don't get us, and we don't relate to them. But what if we talked a little about sports, and a little about the weather, and a little about our family, and their family, and a little about the every day concerns that we all have......and, then when the right opportunity comes, we can sprinkle in a word about God's goodness, and how He answered a prayer or a special blessing we received and that He was the giver of the gift, or we mention an insight we gained from a sermon we heard? Or better yet, what if we went out of our way to share God's love with them in a tangible way, like taking them for dinner or offering to take care of their kids for them while that sweet couple gets to enjoy a date night? Their curiosity just may be aroused, and, then, just maybe the flavor of OUR salt sprinkles may cause a thirst for what we have? We can be the salt they need for zest and flavor in their life.

Let's be salt shakers that consistently sprinkle God's love wherever we go. Our flavoring just might be the difference maker in what and WHO they need!