Our alternative lifestyle - conclusion of overview (I Peter 1:13-16)

Our alternative lifestyle - a lifestyle that is outside the norm. We're continuing these thoughts today, so let's jump right in! Yesterday we asked ourselves the questions: are we living a life of faith, of purpose, of holiness? Is there anything different in us, when unbelievers take a look at our lives?

Here's why it's so important: no matter what the labels are, that people put on different generations....Gen X, Millennial, Greatest Generation, Baby-Boomers......every generation is looking for something. Today's world is no different. People are desperately searching for something real. They long for something authentic. And they are always, always watching Christians. To see if we are the real thing. Unless we are living an "alternative" lifestyle to that which is prevalent in the world, we will seem no different; we will never be the light that this world needs so badly. And that takes a transformation.

Transforming what?
Well, for one thing, our focus needs to be more on God, and less on ourselves. That's a big difference from the world, from the start! The world says, "Me, me, me! It's all about me!" But for a believer, the focus, the center of our life, needs to be the Lord.....not letting Him peek in from the edges, but placing Him at the center of our life.
How to do that?
Jesus told us:

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39)

When we center our lives on God, and on building our relationship with Him, we will spend less time "going through the motions" of what we think we should be. No more spinning our wheels trying to be what the world thinks we should be. We will concentrate on His plans and His purpose for our lives.

Easy peasy, right?
Nope.
It can really be a struggle, living each day as an authentic believer, as a disciple with a life centered in Him. Sometimes we will fall back into old patterns of behavior. Sometimes we will fail to control our words or our actions. It will be important to remember His grace, and His mercy that says, "Get up, child, this moment is new. Start over."

And sometimes we will be tempted to compartmentalize our lives.
You know what I mean. I know you do.
We divide our lives into segments....we put way more effort into some than into others.
At church, we are supposed to be Christians, so we act like we are.
At work, we try to act like a Christian, but the other people don't know the script as well, so we don't have to play the role as carefully.
At home, we act like our real selves. After all, our secret is safe with the family, right?

The moment the doorbell rings, we shift gears and become the model Christian again. It's magic!
And sometimes we do the same thing with our relationship with God.
How many of us have been having a "disciplinary moment" with our kids in the car, but when we put it in park at the church door, the "Holy Spirit" suddenly comes upon us? Instead of the voice and attitude we had inside the car, we are smiling at the people at the door, singing with a lovely voice (when it was raised in anger moments before) and we have a nice visit with God.

Then it's back in the car and being our real selves again.
Oy vey.
Instead of being actors, God wants us to be authentic. To be transformed from the inside, not simply changing the way we act on the outside. And God is the one Who can do this. He is the One Who can transform us into the image of Jesus. Little by little. (That's sanctification!)

The Pharisees were not authentic. Remember?

 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matthew 23:27-28)

Our transformation? Our alternative lifestyle? It's something that we will have to work at. To struggle with. To pray about. To truly focus on God in the center of our lives.
The decision itself is not hard. If we've accepted Jesus as our Lord and our Savior, we will have a real desire to be like Him. We will want to behave like His disciple. Our heart will be so full of gratitude for His loving us and giving Himself for us, that we will be willing to serve.....not out of duty, but out of love for Him.
If we truly believe that He is with us, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, it can change the way we think and act! So then, the "me" that others see at home, at work, at the grocery store, will be the same "me" that people see at church!
And don't forget that last verse...."Love your neighbor".....when we walk into a shop, do we see the workers there as people there to serve us? Or as people who need to know the love of Jesus?
When we spend time with colleagues from work, do we use our talents to speak to them for Him?

Sometimes our human side makes us spend time focusing on what we don't have. Or on what someone else has. When our focus is on the plan and purpose God has for us, we can experience contentment. We are each unique. And talented. And God has a plan to use those skills and talents!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

With our alternative lifestyle, we have a chance to be a candle, a light bulb, or even a lighthouse!

It's an adventure! An alternative lifestyle. A holy lifestyle.

We'll study this more next week! Hope you will be here with us!