As a believer in church, have you ever felt like a stranger or a foreigner? Have you ever been in a crowd and felt that you just didn’t belong? Have you ever asked yourself how did I get planted here? As a stranger in a new community you ask yourself how do I fit in. I am all alone. This is a very difficult position to be in. I know for a fact for this is what happened to me when I moved to the Shenango Valley. The only way that you will be able to make it in this situation is to know who you are and whose you are. Do you know what plan God has for your life? Only He knows where He wants you to bloom.
In a new relationship, there will be those who are supportive and those who will oppose you. Some folk specialize in making other people miserable simply because you are not part of the clique. Anyone serving in ministry or who truly loves the Lord has also felt like this. When you are on fire for the Lord and others around you are just lukewarm, it can feel as if you are a stranger in a foreign territory. There will be those around you that will try to crowd you out and stifle you growth.
If there are any firefighters in the household of faith, I hope you become unemployed real soon. Stop trying to quench the fire of enthusiasm for Christ just because you are cold. Just because someone does not praise like you, don’t put out their fire. Just because someone doesn’t sing the same songs you do, pray like you, dance like you, or shout the same as you, stop putting out their fire. Learn how to turn that fire into a towering inferno. Fan the blaze until everyone in the church is enthusiastic for the Lord. I’m not saying become enthusiastic in order that your flesh may be satisfied, for I know that we are emotional people.
Learn how to sincerely appreciate the worship that God has placed in someone else.