{"id":3690,"date":"2015-10-12T00:01:27","date_gmt":"2015-10-12T07:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/?p=3690"},"modified":"2015-10-11T23:34:08","modified_gmt":"2015-10-12T06:34:08","slug":"1012-dare-to-be-different","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hoc6.org\/global\/2015\/10\/12\/1012-dare-to-be-different\/","title":{"rendered":"10\/12: Dare to be Different (\u8bd7119:17-24 \u5e16\u524d5:1-28 \u803625:15-26:24)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u8bfb\u7ecf\uff1a\u8bd7119:17-24 \u5e16\u524d5:1-28 \u803625:15-26:24<\/h2>\n

Dare to be Different<\/h2>\n
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I once had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Pastor Nadarkhani. Youcef Nadarkhani became a Christian at the age of nineteen. He went on to become an ordained pastor and lead a church in Iran. He is now thirty-eight years old and married with two young children.<\/p>\n

In 2010 he was arrested and sentenced to death for \u2018apostasy\u2019 (converting to Christianity from Islam). Thankfully, after sustained international pressure, the decision was reversed in September 2012.<\/p>\n

During his trial, Pastor Nadarkhani refused to recant his belief despite facing a death sentence. He told the judge, \u2018I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant.\u2019 The UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague, paid tribute to his courage. The Guardian <\/em>newspaper described him as \u2018an inspiringly brave Christian\u2019. Pastor Nadarkhani, like many Christians around the world today, still faces persecution for his faith.<\/p>\n

Jesus gives us a picture of true humanity. Dare to be different, by being like him. Don\u2019t follow what the world tells you is desirable, but follow God by becoming more Christ-like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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1. Be a \u2018stranger\u2019 on earth<\/h2>\n

Psalm 119:17-24<\/a>Do you ever feel like you don\u2019t quite fit in with those around you at work or in your neighbourhood? Do your values and lifestyle seem to be a little different?<\/p>\n

The psalmist says, \u2018I am a stranger <\/em>on earth\u2019 (v.19). All the great men and women in the Old Testament were \u2018strangers <\/em>on earth\u2019 (Hebrews 11:13). The apostle Peter writes, \u2018Live your lives as strangers <\/em>here\u2019 (1 Peter 1:17). Like the psalmist, as servants of God they were called to be different from those around them.<\/p>\n

Unlike those around him, the psalmist writes, \u2018My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times\u2019 (Psalm 119:20). As he reads the Scriptures, he prays, \u2018Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law\u2019 (v.18). This is a great prayer to pray when you study the Bible. We only understand what is revealed by the Spirit.<\/p>\n

Some of those around him are \u2018bad neighbours\u2019 who \u2018maliciously gossip\u2019 (v.23a, MSG). On the other hand, God\u2019s words are to him like \u2018good neighbours\u2019 (v.24, MSG). He writes, \u2018I\u2019m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight;\u00a0I listen to them as to good neighbours!\u2019 (vv.23b\u201324, MSG).<\/p>\n

Lord, give me courage to live as a stranger on earth. Help me to be consumed with longing for your word, to meditate on what you say. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your word.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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2. Live differently<\/h2>\n

1 Thessalonians 5:1-28<\/a>You and I are called to be different from the world around us and we are given practical instructions on how to do this. Paul writes, \u2018Let us not be like others<\/em>\u2019 (v.6). Dare to be different. Paul uses four metaphors to describe the difference:<\/p>\n