Fitting In or Being Called

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel you do not “FIT IN?”  To feel like the people around you do not speak like you, act like you, or even dress like you.  You FEEL you are out of place, and it is awkward.  Can you recall a time when you felt this way?  Maybe it was in school, at work, at church or at a social event, but you just did not seem to fit in. In general, most people want to have a sense of belonging and being a part.  We all want to be accepted.  We all want to fit in, especially at church.  I have heard many times individuals say they have left a church, because they “do not fit in.”  But what does that really mean?  Fitting in is about an emotion and a human perspective.  As the old saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.  But in the Kingdom of God, we are birds of a different kind of feather. There is a stark difference between “fitting in” and “being called.”  For instance, Peter the fisherman, was not a theologian or a pastor of a church.  He would not have fit in with any religious group or even been considered a leader of people of faith.  In fact, he must have felt awkward or out of sorts to leave everything he knew and to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20).  Jesus, at the time did not have riches, an army, a noticeable kingdom, or anything the natural eye could see.  But yet Peter left everything and followed Him.  How about Matthew the tax collector, he most definitely did not fit in with any Jewish group.  Matthew was considered a traitor and despised by the people of Israel. Yet, Jesus called him, and said follow Me and immediately Matthew did (Matthew 9:9). What did these two individuals, Peter and Matthew, have in common?  They did not seek a place where they fit in, but were OBEDIENT to being called. As you start your day, ask yourself, “what have I been called to?”  Is it a career, is it a ministry, is it a church, is it a mission trip, is it being a loving spouse, a devoted parent, or an obedient child?  The list goes on!  Or is it just finding a comfortable place of “fitting in.” As sons of God, we all have a specific purpose (Romans 8:28) that we are being called to. Remember, we are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and we may live in this world, but we are not of this world (John 15:19).   Sometimes our call takes us into those challenging and awkward places. It is not about being comfortable, but being obedient.  Challenge today: do not seek the comfortable spaces that you fit in, but seek what Holy Spirit has called you to and be obedient.