More than a Necklace and a Fish

Do not conform to the patters of this world... (Romans 12:2)

This month's blog doesn't go too deep, but instead is just a short and simple thought I've had that I wanted to share for a few months now.

About a year ago, I started wearing a permanent cross necklace (never to take it off). It's a simple, small, gold cross tilted to the side, and I started wearing it with two daily reminder intentions:

The first was to remind me to take up my cross daily (surrender), and I liked that since the cross was already sideways it felt like a visible reminder to take up my cross everyday. I wanted that visible reminder to start each day by laying my desires, dreams, fears and day at the foot of the cross. This concept of surrender is a cornerstone for how I want to live my life, and wearing this necklace feels like a staple, constant reminder for how I am choosing to live.

When I'm tempted to take matters into my own hands, I hold the cross in my hand instead and remember how I am called to live differently that how others-- including some Christians-- tell me I'm to live the life God created, determined, and Jesus died for.

The second reason, while simple, was to visibly remind me that Jesus is always with me. I know I'm not alone when I say it's easy to feel like no one sees you, hears you, or cares about you, but when I see the cross or hold it in my hand, I'm reminded that I was intentionally made by God to live exactly when and where I do for a reason.

Every detail about me and my life was specifically chosen by God because He loves me and wants what's best for me in all ways and things. He sees me (you) when I feel invisible, He hears me (you) when I feel ostracized, and He cares when I (you) feel irrelevant. He knows all there is to know about you and is always working behind the clouds to make all things work together for your good and His glory.

And sometimes I need to remind myself that sometimes He keeps people hidden for a time for a reason.

Similarly, for my birthday this year I wanted to get a fish decal for my car. After years of feeling like I needed to be private about my faith, I wanted to do something that to me felt bold and display the cornerstone for what I stake my life on.

I used to be afraid that making any kind of statement that I was a Christian would put a target on my back, until I later realized that part of being a follower of Jesus comes with having a target on your back-- it's inevitable, and so you have to make the choice if following Jesus is worth it.

Until recently, those were my intentions on wearing a cross and displaying a fish. It was only in recent months when a new reason was put on my heart. Being a follower of Jesus is the greatest privilege of all and it also comes with very high expectations on how you live, respond and treat other people.

Paul said in Romans, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Everything you're naturally inclined to do, Jesus preaches the opposite. Love those who hurt you. Pay back evil with good. Pray for those who persecute you. Jesus calls His followers to a higher standard, and this fish and cross tangibly remind me to stay accountable to what I'm called to when my flesh wants to respond differently.

How do you tell if someone is a follower of Jesus? How do they respond to the unfairness around them? When they're cut off in traffic, how do they respond? Or do they respond at all? When someone tells them some juicy gossip, do they fuel the fire or do they subtly transition the conversation away from that topic?

Suddenly these two tangible reminders were more than just personal reminders, they were displays of faith that also reminded me of what I'm being asked to do-- be the hands and feet of Jesus. It's no secret that our world desperately needs Jesus, and we are the only way for people to see Him.

Do you want people to notice something different in you? Maybe it's the way you speak, the way you live, or the way you respond to things?

Don't let this expectation overwhelm you to be perfect... you will never be perfect, but that's never what Jesus called us to do. One of the whole purposes Jesus came was to give grace, and so when you fall short, accept the grace He is offering to you, and let it open the door to you telling others about the grace you're given and can therefore extend.

I want people to wonder if the "bizarre" way I live and respond to things has anything to do with the cross on my neck or the fish on my car, and then, maybe even dare to ask.

Don't you?

Thank you for reading this month :)