Do you remember your very first day at school? A new kid in the community, with all those other kids around you? You found yourself being drawn to the most out-going kids there; you know, the one who had the nice clothing, who at that time was the most popular kid there that all the other kid were drawn to. Even the other kids were trying to befriend this popular kid. The fact that you were new at the school and wanted to be accepted by the other kids, you found yourself beginning to take on some of the qualities of that popular kid. You even found yourself dressing like them, talking like them and even taking on some of their mannerisms. When at first you were a shy, dry and introverted, even awkward kid at the time. You stood out to look at that other person, rehearsing how you will draw other kids to want to be around you, so you can set yourself as someone who “gets friends.” You couldn’t express yourself, even if you were given a microphone and a podium. We all remember those unforgettable and awkward moments in our memories, the one’s we try to forget. Even today as an adult, you still exhibit the attributes, characteristics and mannerisms of that individual who effected your life earlier on. You may even copy their lifestyle.
If you think of the popular entertainer Michael Jackson, his dress, his dance steps. We were attracted to him and mimicked his ways. Something effected us that caused us to want to be “like Mike.” Why, because we liked the attention he got. He was everything that you couldn’t be, suave, debonair, and everything that you couldn’t be because you were introverted, not knowing how to express yourself.
Having said all that, as you look at that one individual that you grew up around during those earlier years in school, you realize that they influenced you. That even today we sometime seem to exhibit some of the characteristics of that individual who had effected our life earlier on. Now as we look back over our lives even today we still tend to copy or mimic others lifestyle or even their character. I ask you why? What are we trying to say to everyone round us? What is that inter most statement we’re trying to say about ourselves? What are you longing for and why? Most of the time when we try to mimic someone’s character or behavior, it appears we are trying so hard to make a statement of purpose of who we are or would like to be seen as. Hence that is why we need not follow after men or women who fail at even being who they are, and even so now we usually take on the bad or inconsistent behavioral characteristics of others. Growing up a young man saw his dad fuss at his mom and she did what he told her to do. So that young man as an adult thinks he can fuss at women to get them to do what he wants. He has taken on the bad characteristics of his dad. Those people are trying to be, and exist and cope, but they’re jacked up! Why do we do we mimic people like this?
I learned one lesson: just being what God made me to be, made me different than anyone else. I can’t absorb the ways of someone else and expect to get the same results they got because that was them and this is me. I started being me, and its fun being yourself. You can’t be anyone other than you. I found out who I was.
So to help you get a grip before you slip on who you should be, realize that you are built up from the things you’re surrounded by, and you exhibit the characteristics of your surroundings. Those characteristics will follow you your entire life.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
Some of us didn’t come to the Lord because our favorite person hadn’t come yet. When we found out that they finally did, then we came the Lord. Watch what you do things for. Make sure its truly unto God and not your flesh. Don’t say you’re a Child of God and you entangle yourself with the world or people in the world, because their life and mindset are not like yours. You have a hope of glory of being with your Father at the end. Their hope is to go to the next party, to hang out with their friends, to get the next thrill. Do you want to go home to your Father? If you want to go home, then leave the other mess alone. “But this is my brother!” or “This is my sister!” You have to leave your mother, brother, sister or cousin for the Lord. You see that they’re never going to come to Christ. Are you going to leave salvation to go to them? We get a “Mother Teresa” syndrome and want to save everyone. The Lord loves everyone but He knows everyone won’t come to Him. If you are going to serve the world, but stay in the House of God, you will disrupt the House of God, so you need to get out of the house. The Lord doesn’t pressure anyone to believe in Him, its a personal choice that person has to make. To personally choose something on your own without being influenced, you’ll maintain it. Yet if someone forces you to do it, you’ll do so as long as it takes for them to get out of your sight. The Lord knows that. That is why He says you choose this day whom you will serve.
As for us the baptized of Jesus Christ, we need to take heed to this Word of God so that we won’t find ourselves caught up or entangled in a lifestyle or behavior that is contrary to the Word of God. It’s so easy these day to get hooked into people and society today with new forms of connect called social media.
- Instagram 400 million users
- Snapchat 100 million users
- Facebook 1.5 Billion users
- Twitter 320 Million users
- Linked In 400 million users
- Pinterest 100 million users
- Reddit 36 million users
- WhatsApp 1 billion users
People are now captivated by social media. Satan just has to sit back in his easy chair and wait for people to be captivated by social media. A now you can see why we need to get control on what we are and who we are supposed to be. It’s so crucial that we know who we are and not try to be what we hear or what we see and even more what we are connected to.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
If you’re too busy with social media, will you be able to hear God? If we are “linking in” then we need to lockout then reset so we can truly see and understand where we are and what we are, and who we serve.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Ephesians 4:1-7
Can you walk worthily of your vocation if you are on vacation via youtube? No you can’t because it consumes you, your emotions, your time and life.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. in Jesus Holy Name Amen.
1 Peter 1:7-9
As you are going through your life, you should be under the auspices of our Lord Jesus Christ, doing what He says, so that when He returns, you won’t be found lacking. If social media is causing you to take your heart away from Him, your Bible studies, and your love for Him…I’m not saying dump social media all together. Be careful what you do on social media. How can you control yourself not to let social media control you?