Afraid of Change

So one of the girls in my youth group gets braces right. She tells us that she is getting them beforehand and then the day comes when she actually gets them. My wife and I pick her up for youth group and we notice that she really isn't smiling like she usually does. Of course it has slipped our mind that she was to get her braces that day...Well after awhile we ask her, what's up and she gives us a "new braces type smile." We were like, oh it's all good they look fine! I mean she actually had them fancy colored ones, and had them in red and blue, you know patriotic like. Well she finally got comfortable and gained a little self confidence in herself and eventually began to smile at will again. Sometimes we get that way with our beliefs in God. We spend a week at camp and get all emotionally charged and get fired up for Jesus, but then when we get back out into society..........and well we kinda do like a person with new braces, we tend to keep it under wraps for fear of what others will say. 1 Peter 4:4 says "Of course, your former friends are very surprised when you no longer join them in the wicked things they do, and they say evil things about you. (5)But just remember, that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead." As new Christians living a new life we just have to expect that some people will notice and out of there own sinful nature and inborn fear of the light, will say things against your new life. But in 2 Peter 1:10 Peter reminds us this, "So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away." It's like this, the more we talk about and show that we are real with our new relationship with Christ, the easier it gets. Just like my friend that became more comfortable with her new braces. Not only does sharing our faith help us to become stronger in it, it helps keep us from stumbling, just as Peter tells us in the scriptures. So be strong, don't be afraid to take a stand. In reality it's fear showing through your old friends when they make comments about you and your new faith. They have the fear that you might have something that they don't, and that you are stronger than they are in making such a move of faith. Trust God and he will take those fears away from you and potentially could change the fears of your friends into beliefs. That's the real blessing!

Peace
Wayne