Today’s Reading, Deuteronomy 32-34 & Psalms 91
Focal Scripture: 34:10 “No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.”
Being yourself is very important. It is never wise to try and copy and mimic others. Because, every time you do, you run the risk of losing part of yourself. This is a lesson I keep teaching my son. The desire to fit in and be like everyone else is very tempting. The desire to compromise your beliefs becomes overwhelming. Then the temptation to act and behave like the crowd can become enticing because being an individual is difficult.
In today’s reading we have a tremendous testimony about Moses. We read that no prophet has risen again like Moses. We also see that the Lord knew him face to face. This tells us a few things. First, Moses was not like the people around him. He was willing to stand out and be different. He was able to separate the world from God. He was a steadfast person, who was totally committed. No prophet was ever like Moses and that is a big compliment because the Bible has some mighty and powerful men who took on that role.
Moses wanted to be who God created him to be in this world. He was committed to being himself, being unique, and being available. I can tell you from experience that doing this will come with backlash. How do I know, because I have had people try to put me in a box. They wanted to contain and control my uniqueness. I even had one person look at me before and tell me in a very hateful voice, “Why do you have to be different?”, “Why can’t you be like everyone else.” They wanted me to think and act like the crowd. They wanted me to make decisions that were popular and avoid making the right decision. One time they got upset with me because I followed the rules according to the law about student safety. They said “You do what is right, I will bend the rules to get things done.” That came from a “Christian Leader” who constantly had moral and ethical failures.
Why do I tell this story? Because being yourself goes against the grain of society. This leader wanted me to fit in and not make waves because it was easier for him and he didn’t have to make a real decision. I kept being myself and didn’t waiver. This caused a tremendous rift in the relationship and once he knew I couldn’t be controlled he started working to turn the narrative against me with key people.
The challenge I have for you today is simply this: Are you willing to be different even if it costs you a job, friends and even a hit to your reputation. To be biblically obedient means that this will happen to you. Think of how often the Israelites got mad at Moses because he was following the teachings of the Lord. It would have been easy for him to cave and give into the people. However, he chose to be himself and be obedient to God.
I call on you to do the same today. Be yourself and don’t let others change how God has created you because it makes their life easier. Have a testimony like Moses where it can be said “nobody will ever compare to them in all of history.” To do this you have to be willing to risk it all and even be misunderstood.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Joshua 1-4
