Our pastor has been teaching a series called “Get Used to Different.” The phrase comes from something the Jesus character in The Chosen series (check out The Chosen App if you haven’t watched any of the episodes); Jesus was telling His disciples that if they were to follow Him, it wouldn’t be the status quo as far as loving, accepting and serving people.
But there’s another dimension of getting used to different…it’s the difference that comes to a person when they have been born again. For every person, it’s a rebirth…a discovery of a life and design that God originally created for humanity, a divine design that has a divine nature and divine abilities. But sometimes, people who knew us before we were born again have real issues accepting our new life.
Further complicating things is the fact that although our spirit man has been recreated, we still live in a body and have a soul that hasn’t been necessarily transformed. Romans 12:1-2 infers that physically we are transformed as we present our bodies to God and that our soul (in this case mind) is transformed as we renew our mind…but that’s a process and non-Christians around us don’t tend to see us spiritually but rather outwardly.
So how do you deal with rejection of being different?
A guest speaker we had in over the weekend talked about this, and he pointed out that like us, even Jesus had to deal with people who judged Him outwardly instead of Who He is. Even though He was showing people that He was the Christ – with manifestations of signs and wonders and miracles, including the raising of someone from the dead and the restoration of someone who was demon-possessed – people around Him looked at Him shallowly…
Even Jesus had to deal with people who judged Him outwardly…
“Afterward, Jesus left Capernaum and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. On the Sabbath, he went to teach in the synagogue. Everyone who heard his teaching was overwhelmed with astonishment. They said among themselves, “What incredible wisdom has been given to him! Where did he receive such profound insights? And what mighty miracles flow through his hands! Isn’t this Mary’s son, the carpenter, the brother of Jacob, Joseph, Judah, and Simon? And don’t his sisters all live here in Nazareth?” And they took offense at Him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is treated with honor everywhere except in his own hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” He was unable to do any great miracle in Nazareth, except to heal a few sick people by laying his hands upon them. He was amazed at the depth of their unbelief! Then Jesus went out into the different villages and taught the people.” – MARK 6:1-6 (TPT)
Few people disputed the wisdom, miracles and power that were part of Jesus’ life. He was definitely different! But people in His hometown also knew that He was a common laborer – a carpenter – who built things for them. Those who were raised around Him also knew that His mother, Mary (in their natural thinking) was an unwed mother and that Jesus was the byproduct of that pregnancy. The Bible says “they took offense at Him.”
The word “offense” in that scripture is the Greek word skandalizo. It literally means “to fall into a trap” but its figurative meaning, according to the Strongs Concordance, is “to hinder right conduct or thought; to cause to stumble.” See, people were hindered in their thoughts about Jesus because they looked at His outwardness. The Son of God, the Messiah, the King of kings and Lord of lords, was being rejected by some because of His outward appearance. I would think anyone might be discouraged by that reaction, but Jesus chose not to be.
Don’t get me wrong…Jesus was absolutely amazed at the people’s unbelief. But He didn’t just leave things there. Mark 6:6 tells us that His response was that He “went out into the different villages and taught the people.”
Your life before Christ may have been tumultuous, filled with addictions or violence, depression or total lack of self-control. Or perhaps you “only” had real problems with lying, jealousy, bitterness, anxiety, gluttony, envy, etc. Regardless, your life before Christ made impressions on people that weren’t so good. In addition, you may have come from a social, ethnic or generational background that people judge. Though your spirit-man is changed, people don’t automatically see that in you if they’re looking at outward signs.
So again I ask, how do you deal with now being different and people “stumbled” (offended) by that change? As we know so often, we learn from Jesus’ actions and we follow Him.
- Recognize Who You Are And Do Be Discouraged. We don’t throw up our hands and say, “If you don’t accept me, forget you!” That little thing called unconditional love prevents us from that tactic! Instead, remind yourself that you are – through Christ – truly created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26)…God duplicated Himself in you! You are in Christ Jesus, filled with God the Holy Spirit! And Father God sent Jesus to make that happen!
- Teach People. This happens by what comes out of your mouth on a daily basis and how you live your life. Remember that people ultimately learn more from you by how you live, not by what you “preach.”
- Love Love Rule, Recognizing That God’s Divine Design is for All People to Accept. As patient as God is with us as our bodies and souls are transformed, let’s remember that Jesus’ sacrifice was for every person…so let’s give them the same patience, love and acceptance.
We’re different! Walk in that new DNA!
To watch May 16-17, 2021 messages on which this post was based, CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE!
