You have a name that you are alive. You're DEAD.

From July 21st, 2011

I am sick of being a carbon-copy. I am tired of being a robot. I'm fed up with living brainwashed.

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is set apart. Consecrated. Holy.

If that's true, why do we look like the rest of the world? We talk like them, dress like them, date them, act like them. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying "them," talking about people who don't know Christ, in a disgusted way. Jesus loves the lost. We love Jesus, therefore, we love the lost. Jesus would rather hang out with the thieves and sinners over the prideful, religious snobs anyday. But let me say this: You are not loving the lost when you act just like them.

Most people I know that don't know Jesus are searching for something. And it is NOT a mirror image of themselves. They're looking for hope. Something or someone different than what they've known. Jesus is the most unique, different human being that ever walked the planet. He was, still is, and always will be perfect, sinless, merciful, compassionate, selfless even to the point of death on a cross.  And we're supposed to be his followers, we are supposed to reflect his light.

Whoa, whoa. Hold up. I'm supposed to look like THAT?! Yep.

If you're a Christian, Jesus-follower, lover of God, whatever label you want to put on it...you are called--COMMANDED even--to daily deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24) You were chosen before the creation of the world to be holy & blameless in His sight. (Ephesians 1:4)

I'm challenging you (and myself) to be different. To live like we really believe this book that we say we've based our whole life on. I'm not saying be different for the sake of being different or starting a new trend. I'm saying be different for the sake of Christ. Be set apart for the sake of the one in whose image you were made.

It's about time we stop settling for face-value Christianity. It's time we start recognizing what we said "yes" to when we accepted Jesus as our Lord & Savior. It's time we cease to merely go to church on Sundays, and begin to be the church 24/7.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  James 1:22

"I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent."  Revelation 3:1

We've been weighed, we've been measured, and we've been found wanting. Our deeds are not complete in the sight of our God. He's pleading with us to wake up and see our compromise, open up and feel his love, and grow up and follow the Lamb.