![A paper girl separated from the rest of the group.](/uploads/2/1/4/4/21449656/522609234.jpg?199)
"Be yourself."
You've probably heard that a lot. But, what if you don't know how to be yourself? What if you don't even know who you are?
Being yourself is something that can or should come naturally. However, it's more difficult than it sounds. Everyone raves about the virtue of 'being yourself', but what does that even mean? Why is such a natural state so hard to achieve?
You've probably heard that a lot. But, what if you don't know how to be yourself? What if you don't even know who you are?
Being yourself is something that can or should come naturally. However, it's more difficult than it sounds. Everyone raves about the virtue of 'being yourself', but what does that even mean? Why is such a natural state so hard to achieve?
The influence of peers is one major reason. Friends can influence who you are. Sadly, it's not always in a good way. Many people think that they don't get influenced, but everyone gets influenced. It's just not always in the right way.
God wants you to be the "salt of the earth." If you're no longer yourself, then it's like “salt losing its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything.” (Matthew 5:13)
Some of what we are saying may or may not click to you. But don't try to be 'about that life', because, truth is: you’re not. You are the only you God made. Like a potter has to break and mold clay, God perfected us with His hands. He said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness," (Genesis 1:26)
A guy named Matthew found it difficult to be himself. He found himself in a non-Christian school for the first time in 8th grade. Students mocked him, calling him 'Jesus Boy'. He saw the popular boys and wanted to be like them. He started acting like them in a blink of an eye. He even stopped going to church. Though his conscience told him to stop, he ignored it.
His Christian friend, John, prayed for him. God told John to preach to Matthew and he obeyed. John expected him to ignore his words but received a surprising response. He asked, “Hey Matt, can I talk to you?"
Matthew looked up, surprised. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
John sighed and sat down next to him. "You've been kind of...different lately."
Matthew laughed, running his hand through his hair. "Maybe. Have I?"
"Yeah, what happened?"
Matthew turned solemn. "It's...it's kinda messed up, man. I don't really know what happened. Being in the 'in' crowd seemed so great before, you know? But now, I'm not so sure." Matthew looked up with realization. "John, I need help."
They prayed and Matthew recommitted his life to God. His friend took him to teen counseling and he learned to overcome peer pressure. Matthew left his past to become who God wanted him to be: a light for this world.
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
Will you be a light?
God wants you to be the "salt of the earth." If you're no longer yourself, then it's like “salt losing its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything.” (Matthew 5:13)
Some of what we are saying may or may not click to you. But don't try to be 'about that life', because, truth is: you’re not. You are the only you God made. Like a potter has to break and mold clay, God perfected us with His hands. He said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness," (Genesis 1:26)
A guy named Matthew found it difficult to be himself. He found himself in a non-Christian school for the first time in 8th grade. Students mocked him, calling him 'Jesus Boy'. He saw the popular boys and wanted to be like them. He started acting like them in a blink of an eye. He even stopped going to church. Though his conscience told him to stop, he ignored it.
His Christian friend, John, prayed for him. God told John to preach to Matthew and he obeyed. John expected him to ignore his words but received a surprising response. He asked, “Hey Matt, can I talk to you?"
Matthew looked up, surprised. "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
John sighed and sat down next to him. "You've been kind of...different lately."
Matthew laughed, running his hand through his hair. "Maybe. Have I?"
"Yeah, what happened?"
Matthew turned solemn. "It's...it's kinda messed up, man. I don't really know what happened. Being in the 'in' crowd seemed so great before, you know? But now, I'm not so sure." Matthew looked up with realization. "John, I need help."
They prayed and Matthew recommitted his life to God. His friend took him to teen counseling and he learned to overcome peer pressure. Matthew left his past to become who God wanted him to be: a light for this world.
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
Will you be a light?