My dear friends,
I would like to tell you all something that God has put on my heart. There are certain things which I notice Christians have been largely neglecting for a long time. I believe the solution to these problems can be described in one word – misfit.
Misfit: a person poorly adjusted to his environment.
When taken at face value, most people would not want to be described by that word. However, Christians should not want to fit into the environment of this world. My dear friends, I see a vision of us choosing to forget the fears of our past and focusing on the call of God to reach into the world’s environment to create more and more misfits for Christ. Anyone who has the love of our Father in them will feel compelled to spread that love into the world. It is the strength He has placed in our hearts to break the bonds of fear of rejection and persecution. It is the Great Commission of Mark 16:15.
Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting we all become freaks or critics. Weird and judgmental people attract no one. If Christians only accomplish being awkward and untactful, we will just repel people. In being different, we should be showing a love, grace, and justice which this world is unfamiliar with.
No longer can we be content to fail once and give up, saying “I tried.” Until I have accomplished what my Lord has compelled me to do, I will continue to go beyond what I tell myself I can do. If we forgot all our excuses and charged this world for our God’s sake, nothing would be able to stop us.
When I look back on my life, I see that even when I felt He had utterly abandoned me, God has never left my side. His blessings have been on me even when I had failed him in the worst of ways. With so much evidence of His unfailing love for us surrounding our every move, how could we refuse when He compels us to be misfits for Him?
We need to get back to where we should be in our lives, especially in growing in our spiritual gifts. For some of us, this could mean discovering what our spiritual gifts are and how to use them. For others, it will mean breaking out of our shells and finding areas where our gifts are needed and using them to the glory of God.
We all need to remember that these gifts are to be used for God’s glory, and not our own. Trying to use them for our own ends with no regard for Christ, or taking selfish pride in our gifts is a sure way to lose them sooner or later, and usually sooner. Many people, even within the church, will scoff at us for embracing these gifts out of fear of something new and different. However, if we will take a step of faith and accept being misfits in this way, God will shine His love and glory through us and compel His lost children back to Him.
Most importantly, we must be compelled to pray for each other. In Mathew 18:19, Jesus tells us that “if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything they will ask, it will be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” Staying in prayer for each other and will give support to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and ensures victory in any matter, which is in accordance with the Word.
If we embrace being misfits, seek out God’s will for us, develop our spiritual gifts, pray for ourselves, each other, and our world, then this movement will not stop with us. It will affect our churches, jobs, schools, everywhere else that God has placed us, and far beyond. You are there for a reason, even if you cannot see it yet. Trust in God.
Sincerely,
C. Ables
