The Little Things Do Matter

With the Lord's authority let me say this: live no longer as the
ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.

But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about
Christ. Since you have heard all about Him and have learned the truth that
is in Jesus, throw off you old evil nature and your former way of life, which is
rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there
must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must
display a new nature because you are a new person, created in
God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true. (Ephesians 4:17-24)(emphasis
mine).

In this passage, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, lays out the difference between our old self and the new person we are after placing our faith in Christ. By the world's view, this new person is really quite uncommon today. Webster's dictionary defines the word uncommon as unusual; or not ordinarily encountered.

Prior to placing my trust in Christ, if someone were to describe me as uncommon, I would have been a bit offended. I would have thought, I want to be just like every one else--I want to just blend in. After all, I was not that different.

Now, to be called uncommon, is a compliment. As a believer, we are called to be different. After all, we do have the living Christ living inside of us. And because of His presence, we are no longer the same--in fact, God's truth declares that "we are a new creation." (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a new creation, God empowers and strengthens us to live by and in His truth in all of the things we do and say. Living this way is the way God designed us to live. In this, we have His peace and joy. It is all His gift of the abundant life.

And as an added bonus to this gift, He does not just leave us to fumble around to "live out" our life as a new creation. He does not leave us to fend for our self. God declares that "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). That is--"all things"--big things and little things. Rest in this truth! Allow it to permeate deep inside of you--allow it to transform all of your thinking and all of your actions.

Enjoy living in Him and with Him in you.