Inspiration for resisting those who tell us not to come to certain conclusions

[Keith Martin]

Yesterday's Daily Email Goodie from our friend Clyde Pilkington, Jr., at studyshelf.com:

Don’t Let Others Live Your Life!

Many allow others to live their lives for them. They are dominated by what others think and say.

We only live twice: one temporary life now, and one immortal life in the resurrection. This truth makes all of life valuable; especially this first one – since it is a quickly vanishing vapor-life (James 4:14). Everyone gets one of these temporal lives. No one has the right to live your life for you, thus having more than one life for themselves.

Refuse to allow anyone to live your life for you; to pressure, to domineer, to bully, to lord over you. Father has given you the gift of His life in you. Value it, honor it, and redeem it from the hands of those who would embezzle it from you. Not even Paul the Apostle would assume such a place over the lives of believers (II Corinthians 1:24); nor would Paul allow anyone to have such ascendancy in his own life (I Corinthians 4:3). This is why his great appeals are for us to be free from such power and control (Colossians 2:20-22).

Others may choose to judge us. However sincere their actions may be, or appear to be, we are not to be affected by this. When we, like Paul, walk before the Lord, their verdicts are to be a “very small thing” in our sight. In fact, if we are concerned about their opinions, it will have a hindering and hampering effect.

Stop worrying about others’ opinions and go on living the precious life that God has given to you. Don’t worry about the expectations of others. God’s calling in your life is to be His unique prototype, not a stereotype; you are to be His original, not a forged copy. Abandon mere mortal expectations, real or imagined.

Clyde L.Pilkington, Jr.
Daily Email Goodies

 

[PeteR]

Love this.... have to look up his site and sign up.

 

[WaterSpirit]

Thank you for sharing!

 

[rejoicinghandmaid]

God’s calling in your life is to be His unique prototype, not a stereotype; you are to be His original, not a forged copy. Abandon mere mortal expectations, real or imagined.

Clyde L.Pilkington, Jr.
Daily Email Goodies[/QUOTE]

Very true, if we could ever get our brains wrapped around the prototype vs. stereotype concept. I don't know how it is for men, but especially for women we intensely feel the need to "fit in", to be a part of something, a group, accepted, etc. We start taking our cues from other humans to figure out what does it take to "fit in". We start comparing ourselves among ourselves--doing the very thing Scripture cautions against.
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Resisting that temptation, desiring the affection of Yeshua more than the group or crowd, brings about the need to die to one's need for acceptance. Dieing to self pits our spirit against the flesh--which doesn't die easily--never has and never will! The tricotomy of the human being created in God's own image then faces a battle raging within--duking it out. The one you feed the most will always win the day. From the ashes of death to self then rises the unique identity Yeshua has desired for you. No human being who stays in the crowd will ever achieve personal identity. The mob mentality creates its own persona and crushes everyone who swarms to its hive!
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.