By Ada Brownell
For some reason, humans follow other people like sheep
following other sheep, even if they have no idea where they’re going.
Sheep will blindly, habitually, stupidly follow one another
along the same little trails until they become ruts that erode into gigantic
gullies, says Phillip Keller, a shepherd and Christian author.[1]
Keller says, “Instead of being one of the crowd, I am
willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang. Most of us, like sheep, are
pretty gregarious. We want to belong. We don’t want to be different in a big
way, though we may wish to be different in minor details that appeal to our
selfish egos.”
Yet, it is the person
who dares to be different who changes the world for the better.
One area where we usually don't want to be different is in
the way we dress and style our hair. Yet, being unique in our appearance has
value. How we dress demonstrates who we are. Whether we are fastidious, a
perfectionist, modest, shy, too lazy to work on our appearance, trying to
attract attention, or in rebellion, might show in what we wear on our bodies.
For sure if we keep our hair clean, brushed, and styled; our
clothing clean, wrinkle-free, and well fit; and use colors and styles that
complement our age, complexion, hair color, and body shape, it says we care
about the details of life.
Appearance also sometimes demonstrates whether you are a
leader or a follower.
IMAGINE YOUR UNIQUENESS
Every person is uniquely attractive because we all are made
in the image of God. Humankind finally figured out it’s not the color of our
skin that matters, but we still don’t seem to know it’s what’s under our skin
that counts.
My mom told me the most beautiful thing I can wear is a
smile. But even a smile won’t cover an ugly attitude, hatred, envy, anger,
lies, greed, jealousy, and rebellion.
Guys and gals who have the courage to be the person God
wants them to be inside and out, despite what everyone else is doing, will earn
respect. If you don’t believe that, think about a young individual you look up
to because of who they are. Listen to how guys and girls treat and talk about
people you know who aren’t respected.
IMAGINE SETTING TRENDS
People who dress modestly and tastefully—still staying in
style—will create peer pressure. More than one person will want to be just like
them. But the most attractive assets we can have are love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness and self control, the fruits of
the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible in Galatians 5:22.
King Solomon, who had seven hundred wives, since having more
than one wife was acceptable in Old Testament days, wrote, “Charm is deceptive.
And beauty if fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”
(Proverbs 31:20NIV).
-Adapted and exerpted from Ada Brownell's
book, IMAGINE THE FUTURE YOU, a motivational Bible Study. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1489558284
[1]
Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at the
Good Shepherd and His Sheep (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan), 65.
No comments:
Post a Comment