Cliques In The Church Of God

I remember playing in the cul-de-sac of my childhood home.  The neighborhood girls formed cliques early on and they flourished like wildfire.

I was humiliated by one girl, who played a trick on me and “de-pantsed” me in front of everyone.  I’ll never forget the shame and embarrassment I felt.

Cliques are never pretty.  They spread fiercely and make a perfectly emerald lawn cluttered with bright yellow dandelions.  

I can still feel the sting of being the third wheel.  Giggles and whispers sent daggers to my gut.

All I wanted was to feel liked and to “fit in”.  

Unfortunately, cliques don’t seem to be going out of style.  Unlike flared jeans and high bangs, cliques aren’t going out of fashion.  

I want to teach my kids to root for the underdog.
To always include everyone.
To never make another human being feel left out and unappreciated.

Because we are to be like Jesus.
More than being right, we are called to reflect Him.

So break out of your cliques, Church of God.
Go love the unlovable.
Go show His love to the rejected.
Go be His hands and feet today.

It’s not always comfortable.  
It may require that you lay down your pride, and pick up His cross.
It may mean stepping away from the comfort of your crowd, in order to press into the heartbeat of His purposes and calling on your life.

Who is God calling you to love on today?
Is it your neighbors down the street?
Is it that person who lives a different lifestyle?
Is it your wayward family?  

In the end there are only two sets of people in this life.  Those who know Christ as Savior, and those who don’t.  

When we are fighting against our own, we are letting the enemy have the upper hand.  

When we are fighting against those who don’t know Christ, we are showing them anything but His love.

For it is His love alone that can change a heart.

So put down your weapons of hate.
Stop the arguments and debates.
Go as far as to say that you don’t have all the answers, but that your Savior does and let Him do the calling.
We are not the ones to convict hearts.

We are not the Holy Spirit in another person’s life.  
We are only to be His vessel.

A vessel of God needs DAILY emptying of self, so that we may be FILLED with the fullness of HIM.

So, fellow Christian… get so close to Jesus that it will be glaringly evident that you have been with Him.

His love,
grace,
mercy,
patience,
kindness,
long suffering,
humility…

will seep from your very veins and allow your countenance to truly shine Him, and not you.

Get out the way, dear Christian.  Stop fighting and let Jesus shine through you today, as an empty vessel for His glory.

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