It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know we often try to mold people into our idea or view of what should be. It is one thing to talk about “not making God fit into our mold”; it is another to then turn around and try to do the same to people. For various reasons, it is wrong.
No one likes to be someone’s idea of what they ought to be. For years society has rebelled against the “Barbie” idea of little girls. We realize not all boys can fit the “superhero” mold.
Why then, do we try to form people into our mold when it comes to following Jesus? Be as I am. Think as I think. Act like I act. Talk like I talk. Dress as I dress. All nice and cookie-cutter like. We ought to run as far away from that as we do a skunk when it crosses our path. That type of thinking smells THAT bad.
While reading Mary DeMuth’s new book, Everything, I ran across a quote I had long forgotten (to my detriment I might add):
Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you. Oswald Chambers
WOW! That hit the nail on the head!! Just as I don’t like to be put into a mold, neither should I expect God to work the same in another person’s life as He does mine. God chooses to work in our lives in different ways. Stop expecting a “ditto” performance.
Have you struggled with this in any way? What have you done about it?
First of all, that is a great quote! Yes, I have struggled with this. Unfortunately, it seems a particular foible of human nature to do the compare/contrast thing. It never seems to lead to good feelings. The way I work against that natural tendency is twofold:
1. I remember that I will never fully know what it feels like to *walk in someone else’s moccasins* – so I try not to judge or buttonhole them.
2. I remember the words of Jesus when Peter was asking about John. This is what Jesus had to say about that:
“Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”(John 21:22, NLT)
A good reminder that God is writing HIS story in every individual life. All I need to think about is following Him on the journey of my own story.
GOD BLESS!
So true Sharon about God writing each one our own stories. No sense in us trying to write someone’s for them. Thanks.
I like the quote. To answer your question, I am pretty sure that I have struggled with this expectation in any way. Man, it just never occurred to me.
I struggle with it also from time to time Daniel. I wonder if it tends to be human nature to do that.
Well said, Bill. They don’t have to be like me to be like Him.
That’s for sure …
Yeah…and not a bad idea either given my “proneness” for sin.
Certainly when I was raising children tried to mold them to a certain degree but at the same time allowing the individual character a lot of latitude to develop. Whatever group we identify with has certain rules and expectations of it’s members. Whether society as a whole with it’s laws and norms or a religious group with it’s unwritten rules and requirements. I think everyone should be allowed their own life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness however they want as long as they are not infringing on anyone else’s.
I don’t know what the Jesus following mold looks like nor do I think God or the enemy is working in my life. That is a different group think than I subscribe to.
Infringing on another’s “territory” tends to be what many try to do. I know it is a different group think from what you are used to but you still understand the principle of what I am speaking about. đŸ™‚
I was just thinking about this last night. We are all good with those that share our weaknesses and blast the ones that have a different bend…
A bend is a bend is a bend is a bend… and we all got em’.
Very true. Birds of a feather tends to be more than just a saying in many cases.
Glad to see this quote from Mary’s book, Everything. I just finished it yesterday and plan to re read it along with the scripture principals that go along with each chapter. Am thinking about going through her book with my bible study group.
The word is clear He is to be our example not another frail person. I love hearing testimonies for that reason, interesting how each story has a different twist, same God working in each one but only He could come up with so many diverse ways of reaching someone.
Last night eight of us women went to see the “Do You Believe” movie. Afterwards we talked about how the movie struck us. Because we are each in a different place of our growth God spoke to us all in that different place. Same movie, same God speaking, but different hearts it was falling on…loved how He loves us right where we are. We have one lady who tend to head toward charismatic ways, one who is very strict with her walk, one or two who are very new in their faith, some divorced, a couple singles, some old married women like me. We all agreed it was good we could not put God in a box. Good post Bill…the one quote from it is enough to make us think about our own walk of faith compared to Him and not anyone else.
That is a wise and powerful quote for sure, Bill! I really like that. It’s so easy to do that, but God deals with each of us graciously and in a way that fits us perfectly. His yoke is easy and burden light. Thanks for this.