I’ve been pondering this passage a lot lately. Our small group studied Romans 12 for awhile. There is just so much good meat in this chapter. Recently, I’ve been thinking on the first verse…
Sometimes I’m a rebel (in my own mind) and I don’t care that I don’t fit in. But sometimes, I don’t fit in and it hurts. Sometimes I don’t fit in with the world. Sometimes I don’t fit in with the church either. I think not fitting in with your brothers and sisters in Christ might be a tad more painful, just in my experience. Yet, I know that even yet, we aren’t called to fit in anywhere! This world is not my home!
I wonder how many times I have excluded others because someone didn’t share my mindset. Have I shown grace when others don’t agree with me? Not always.
We are called to be different. But sometimes I grow weary of different. What about you?
I don’t even usually know if my “different” is right or wrong. So, I’m not saying my different is the way it should be. Just different. Sometimes I don’t know if my different is what I’m called to be.
We aren’t all called to the same things. That doesn’t make those choices right or wrong.
But, is there grace for all callings?
Is there grace when I don’t understand why someone does something? Is there grace when someone leads a life very different from mine? Is there grace to cover the misunderstandings among us? I have to hope and believe there is! We just must be continually learning and GROWING in GRACE. I think this takes humility.
Being transformed, I am learning, is growing in maturity and being able to show grace when when I don’t understand. Gosh, that is hard, I admit. And I am so thankful that I’m a work in progress…God isn’t finished with me yet.
His transforming power is so strong…yet I am so weak. I’m thankful that He doesn’t give up on me.
So, I say to Him…Here I am, Lord. Take me, mold me, use me as You will. Show me when I’m wrong. And give me grace for those who don’t share the same mindset I have. Give them grace to show me as well. For your glory.