Deuteronomy 18:9-14
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.
We all want to "fit in". We want to "fit in" at home, at work, at school, at church, in our communities, and even with our activities. Sometimes it becomes so important to us that we are willing to compromise our own likes, desires, or dreams to "fit in". "Fitting in" can look like different things to different people. Some people equate acceptance with prestige, wealth, success and good looks. Others want to be mediocre. To them "fitting in" is not standing out or being noticed. There are even those who see "fitting in" as being the biggest, baddest, toughest person on the planet. We equate "fitting in" with freedom. Freedom from insecurity, hopelessness, shame, hurt and numerous other things. The reality is "fitting in" leads to sin and sin is bondage. We become a slave to the world's way of thinking. We are always striving for the next thing that we need to do, buy, or achieve in order to "fit in". The other problem with "fitting in" is often times the crowd you were so eager to "fit it" with will leave you as soon as you no longer suit their purpose.
God warned the Israelites of trying to conform to the ways of the people He was casting out of the pomised land. He knew conformity with the wold would draw His people away from Him and lead to slavery and misery. Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son who so desperately wanted to do what looked like fun that he demanded his inheritance and left his father's house. While the prodigal had money he had friends and "fit in". As soon as the money ran out his friends abandoned him and he was left penniless, homeless and friendless in an unfamiliar city.
The good news is God loves us! He loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the debt we accrued while trying to "fit in"! He does not leave us friendless, He is our friend (John 15:15)! He does not leave us homeless, He is our shelter (Psalm 143:9)! He does not leave us hopeless, He is our hope! The truth is this world is not our home. We will never "fit in" here. Stop trying to conform to this world. Be conformed, by the Holy Spirit, into the image of Jesus. Only then will you know true joy and freedom!
Abba, Father, for too long I have tried to "fit in" to the world's mold. It has led me far from You! Here I am today, Daddy, with my arms open wide towrd You! I repent and turn away from the things of this world. Mold me and shape me into the image of Your Son. Take me in Your arms I pray! In Jesus beautiful name, amen.
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you.
We all want to "fit in". We want to "fit in" at home, at work, at school, at church, in our communities, and even with our activities. Sometimes it becomes so important to us that we are willing to compromise our own likes, desires, or dreams to "fit in". "Fitting in" can look like different things to different people. Some people equate acceptance with prestige, wealth, success and good looks. Others want to be mediocre. To them "fitting in" is not standing out or being noticed. There are even those who see "fitting in" as being the biggest, baddest, toughest person on the planet. We equate "fitting in" with freedom. Freedom from insecurity, hopelessness, shame, hurt and numerous other things. The reality is "fitting in" leads to sin and sin is bondage. We become a slave to the world's way of thinking. We are always striving for the next thing that we need to do, buy, or achieve in order to "fit in". The other problem with "fitting in" is often times the crowd you were so eager to "fit it" with will leave you as soon as you no longer suit their purpose.
God warned the Israelites of trying to conform to the ways of the people He was casting out of the pomised land. He knew conformity with the wold would draw His people away from Him and lead to slavery and misery. Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son who so desperately wanted to do what looked like fun that he demanded his inheritance and left his father's house. While the prodigal had money he had friends and "fit in". As soon as the money ran out his friends abandoned him and he was left penniless, homeless and friendless in an unfamiliar city.
The good news is God loves us! He loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to pay the debt we accrued while trying to "fit in"! He does not leave us friendless, He is our friend (John 15:15)! He does not leave us homeless, He is our shelter (Psalm 143:9)! He does not leave us hopeless, He is our hope! The truth is this world is not our home. We will never "fit in" here. Stop trying to conform to this world. Be conformed, by the Holy Spirit, into the image of Jesus. Only then will you know true joy and freedom!
Abba, Father, for too long I have tried to "fit in" to the world's mold. It has led me far from You! Here I am today, Daddy, with my arms open wide towrd You! I repent and turn away from the things of this world. Mold me and shape me into the image of Your Son. Take me in Your arms I pray! In Jesus beautiful name, amen.
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