I had the most refreshing conversation this morning with one of our church members. She expressed something that I think we all feel from time to time. I'm talking about the fact that we are all different from everyone else at the church. Yesterday in my email to you I talked about the enemy and how he cunningly suggests things to us that are lies. I cautioned that we must guard against believing what he is saying and always cling to the promises of God. In the garden God said "Do not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." Why? Because then man would become aware of evil as God was aware of it. We now know that this knowledge has been detrimental to the human race and has brought death to man. What the serpent told Eve was "You will know what God knows". Now, while he was saying something that was true, he did not convey the facts in their entirety and it cost Eve greatly when as she believed him and bit into the delicate fruit.
Likewise the enemy will tell you that you are different from everyone else at The Oaks. This may cause you to feel isolated, alone and well...different from everyone else. The devil's desire in whispering this to you is to separate you from relationship (just as this was his desire in the garden). The fact is that he is saying something that is true (as he was in the garden). However, he does not convey the facts in their entirety. You see, your uniqueness needs to be celebrated...not lamented!! You are different from everyone else! That is so cool! So I want to take one person in our church and point out their differences and celebrate it as God does.D---, you are different from the rest of us. You have a wonderful and completely unique way of seeing things and it is expressed as a loving and caring virtue that makes the rest of us richer. there is no one quite like you....you are different. As each snowflake is different from another, God made you special. It makes you a wonderful husband, father, friend, son and servant. We love you and celebrate that. Please always be different from us! Let us learn from you...let us give you every opportunity to express how you are so rare and so unique that we can see God in a different way through you.. We cherish your diversity and long to serve alongside you as you teach us to glimpse life the way you see it...a different way...a wonderful way...a Godly way.
Oaks, I could have chosen any of you and said the same thing in that last paragraph. It is what I wanted to express to my sister in Christ this morning (A---- I so hope I did). We are not asking triangles to fit into our round "Oak holes". On the contrary. We desire to let triangles be triangles (or whatever shape you think would best describe your uniqueness) and be formed as clay in the hands of the Potter. Molded to become what each Oak was created to be by Jesus, through each life experience. He is not done with you and me. He is using our particular flavor to tell the story of His glory. Now, that is something to celebrate!! I love you Oaks.
Go Be Different Today
Pastor Chris