I think we can agree that we all want the world we live in to be a better place. Sometimes the thought of it may cause headaches—it is too big of a task…too big of a job for me. The thing is: You were MADE to make a difference. Ephesians 2:10 helps break that down. “For we are His worksmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” You were put together with various ingredients to be assured of success (MADE definition) of making the world a different place (DIFFERENCE definition). Not an attitude of you bringing goodness to God, but bringing God’s goodness to others.
A phrase in Acts 17 was brought to my attention not long ago. As Jews who were not persuaded took some evil men to Jason’s house, they cried out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”
A world turned upside down…for Him. Think about the book of Acts. Walls collapsed, doors were open in palaces and jails, and many countries were brought the message of God. That same movement can be our world today…..
And it begins with YOU! Are you truly living a life in relationship with Him? It is not merely a label. It is a relationship. Relationships take trust, loyalty, communication. It isn’t living for Him when it is convenient. It is completely being transformed for Him (Romans 12:1-2). The story of Jesus with the Pharisee in Luke 11:37-44 shows this concept. The Pharisee was so upset that Jesus did not “wash His hands” before dinner. Jesus states. “Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? ” From the inside out…are you TURNED UPSIDE DOWN for Him? How is your prayer life (communication)? How is your time in His Word (again..communication)? Do you fully TRUST Him?
Next involves US! Are you serving God with your spiritual gifts? Romans 12:3-7 gives us a glimpse of this. Each one of us are ONE BODY but we all do not have the same function. If you are using your gifts in the way you are to use them, and I am using the gifts I have been bestowed, our gifts together work as ONE! So many times we let the comparison trap enter. Comparison is a STEALER of JOY. We want what others have…to teach like someone else, pray like someone else, be able to easily communicate with others like someone else….STOP LOOKING AT OTHERS WISHING YOU WERE LIKE THEM! God made you unique. Make a list of the gifts you have and use them. Your gifts compliment others gifts and will bring God’s goodness to others. Imagine if all the “parts” worked together…our world would be TURNED UPSIDE DOWN for Him!
Now, BEHAVE LIKE A CHRISTIAN! Romans 12 continues with:
- Let love be without hypocrisy.
- Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
- Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another
- not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit
- serving the Lord
- rejoicing in hope
- patient in tribulation
- continuing steadfastly in prayer (there is that communication again 🙂 )
- distributing to the needs of the saints
- given to hospitality
- Bless those who persecute you.
- Do not curse.
- rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
- be of same mind toward one another.
- do not set you mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
- do not be wise in your own opinion.
- repay no evil for evil.
- have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
- live peaceably with all men if possible.
- do not avenge yourselves, but give place to wrath because vengeance is the Lord’s.
- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Look up. Look up for ways to serve. Look at how we treat one another. Those of the world are looking in. If we can’t do these things with one another, how can the world be TURNED UPSIDE DOWN?
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even until the end of age. —Matthew 28:19-20
That particular statement from Jesus is not merely a suggestion.
You were made to make a difference. Are you completely submitted to Him? Are you connected to Him? Are you using your spiritual gifts? Are you behaving like a Christian?
Use the ingredients you were designed with for success to make a difference in the world. And when you do that, and I do that, the WORLD CAN BE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN for Him!
Anchored to Him,
Leigh Ann
