“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
- Romans 12:2 ESV
This morning I found myself sitting on the porch watching the world wake up. My human was doing what he usually does, drinking his coffee, reading his Bible, and occasionally looking over at me like he was expecting me to learn something.
I was.
You see, being a dog comes with a few decisions. There are squirrels to chase, things to sniff, and occasionally something in the neighbor’s yard that looks a whole lot more interesting than anything in mine. Just because everybody else is chasing something doesn’t mean I need to follow along.
Although, I have to admit, sometimes the temptation gets the best of me.
My human was reading about being in the world but not of the world. That got my attention. I understand being around things without becoming part of them. I can walk through the mud without having to roll in it… most of the time.
Seems like that’s a pretty good lesson for humans, too.
God never called us to run away from the world, but He did call us to live differently in it. We’re surrounded by voices telling us what matters, what to chase, what to believe, and what will make us happy. But not every path is worth following, and not every open door is one God wants us walking through.
Sometimes making the right choice means taking a different road.
Sometimes it means standing apart when everybody else is going the same direction.
And sometimes it means having enough faith to say no to something that looks good because you know it isn’t good for you.
Being separate isn’t about thinking we’re better than everybody else.
It’s about remembering who we belong to.
The world ought to see something different in the way we live, the way we love, the way we speak, and the choices we make. Not because we’re trying to get noticed, but because we’re trying to follow Jesus.
I suppose that’s what my human was getting at over that second cup of coffee. We can’t follow the crowd and follow Christ when the two are headed in opposite directions.
So today, I’m going to keep my nose out of trouble, my paws on the right path, and my eyes on my human. He’s still got a few things to learn, too.
Here’s the lesson:
You don’t have to follow the crowd, respond to the loudest voice, chase every opportunity, or take every road that opens up. Sometimes the wisest thing you can do is choose a separate way. Not away from the world, but a different way of living in it.
After all, we’re called to be different, not because we’re special, but because we belong to Someone who is.
And that’s a pretty good reason to walk a different path.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
