I had coffee the other day with a good friend of mine. Joining us, was a gentleman I’d not had the pleasure of meeting prior. We spoke for approximately an hour, about our lives, the church, Jesus and the designs God has for each of us. When it was time for the gentleman to depart, he thanked me for the conversation and said, “it was a pleasure”. To which I replied, “likewise”. He responded again with, “this was enjoyable, Scott. You are an usual man”. I thanked him for the splendid compliment.
“Unusual?” I thought as I headed on about my day. I received it as a compliment, which I truly believe it was intended. Not long ago I would not have known how to receive it. “That doesn’t matter really,” I pondered. “This is the first time someone has ever really described me that way, with that intent.”
What was it about this encounter that made me appear unusual? The only conclusion I can come to is, Jesus. Jesus has been working on my heart. He’s been shaping me and molding me into the man that He would see me be, a man He can use.
When your friends, family or strangers in the community interact with you, do your words and actions seem peculiar to them? They should. If you are pursuing Jesus, allowing Him to work on your heart, others should see that and those of the world should find it peculiar.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We live in this world, presently. We are surrounded by the temporal. We desire the things of this world, as do those around us. Jesus instructs us to pay no attention to those things, that our focus should be firmly on the eternal. When we can do this, it will appear strange to those around us.
