By Lou Coleman-Yeboah
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)— If you know the difference between right and wrong, then you know what you need todo to please the Lord. No matter what others do, you know what you have to do.God makes this personal; the Bible says, “And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” [Galatians 6:9]. Doing right is not an option in theChristian life. James says, “Anyone, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. [James 4:17]. That means doing the right thing even when it doesn’t make sense. That means doing the right thing regardless of consequences. That means doing the right thing when everybody else is doing the wrong thing.Yeah, we live in a society today that wants us to conform: Conform to what they want and the way they want to live, but I want you to know today that we are called to be different. We are not called to fit in, but rather to stand out. [Romans 12:2] tells us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”.
I don’t know about you, but there’s something in my spirit that resonates with people who live by their convictions. There is something in my spirit that resonates with people who is willing to stand and say, No! I’m attracted to people who have that kind of courage and conviction. There is something magnificent about integrity, something beautiful and powerful. I am not talking about being perfect, because that is not going to happen. But character does matter, it matters a lot.
That is why I love me some Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They had a set of pre-determined convictions that they were not willing to compromise. The Word of God had become their moral compass.[Exodus 20]. They said, we’re not bending. They said we’ve made up our minds.We’re not going to be pressured, bribed, manipulated, or coerced. We’ve drawing a line in the sand and we are willing to even pay the ultimate price of losing our lives because we are so convinced of these convictions are from God. I tell you, there is something magnificent about integrity, something beautiful and powerful. You can no longer go along with the crowd. Remember, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. [Matthew 12:36-37].
Choose today to be different.
People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.[Proverbs 10:9]
Decide today that it’s over now. No more following the crowd. No more doing as the crowd do. You have been called to be set apart. Believers in Christ have been called to live this unique life and different lifestyle. Distinct, separate, not the same, out of the ordinary, unusual. Christ was distinct, separate, out of the ordinary, and he called his followers to be like him. Any man or woman who accomplishes anything worthwhile must have the courage to live differently because they are marching to a different drummer and are not afraid to be out of step. I tell you, you can no longer go along with the crowd!