Uncommon

Uncommon                                                 04-30-16

Acts 10:13-15 (ESV) ¹³  And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
¹⁴  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
¹⁵  And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

I was startled this week by comments from some powerful, public people aimed at other powerful, public people. It all too publicly revealed the degradation of the political process in this land of ours. The Lord however showed me something out of it. I'll try and share my thoughts with you today.

It's easy isn't it? What would that be Ronnie? Well, there's no antiseptic way to put it. You know how it goes. Much like what I suppose happened this week. We get around folk and we start talking. Before you know it we've said some stuff about an individual or individuals; or maybe about groups of people, nationalities or races that, how would we put it.......aren't too complimentary. Almost all of the time it is outside the earshot or presence of said individuals or groups. And almost always it is something we would not say to their face, therefore it smacks of cowardice. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, this seems to be a universal trait amongst us; not limited to any particular tribe or creed. That being said, I wanted to share that picture with you, so you, like me,  might better appreciate that word "common."

Get a good grasp of that word, because it is central to the point that the Lord shared with me today. 

According to Vines the meaning in the context of the above verses is "ordinary." "Belonging to the generality, as distinct from what is peculiar to the few."

That word was applied to the ordinary people in contrast to those of the Pharisees. It was used to mark a religious class distinction. In today's lingo those of us who, in our eyes, are "spiritual" and those of us who are not. In Peter's day it had descended into calling someone or something profane or unclean.

So, calling something common meant more than just ordinary. It started as ordinary, but at the gut level it was unholy or unhallowed. Not set apart or peculiar. If we read the entire  tenth chapter of Acts, we discover that God was making reference to people, when He told Peter not to call something common or unclean. Look at this.

Acts 10:28 (ESV) ²⁸  And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

And here is where the Lord spoke to my heart this morning. How so Ronnie? Well, just this. He didn't speak to my heart about something that I should not do,  (Although I am sure there is a lesson here on just that) but, He spoke to me about something I should not ALLOW. Huh..? How's that Ronnie? Just this. Ronnie,don't allow someone to MAKE you common....... 

You see brothers and sisters, we don't really have any control over the world or people in the world CALLING us common. We don't have any control over the world or the people in the world BEHAVING towards us as if we are common. Ordinary or even unclean. Like I said uptop that seems to be a universal trait common to humanity. I am sure I have behaved that way towards people in the past. BUT, we do have control over being made common in our eyes. You gettin my drift here?

Understand this, usually if you are like me, we react towards our assailants in one of two ways, both motivated by the flesh, and both destructive. Either we STRIKE BACK in a fit of rage, after which we are ashamed of ourselves; or we passively take it and allow it to take root in our hearts. We allow the behaviors of others to make us FEEL common and ordinary. We feel spiritually mugged even when God Almighty says differently don't we?  

Whether we react with violent indignation or false humility, neither one is the way The Lord Jesus sees us and  we have allowed the enemy the upper hand in our hearts. 

Brothers and sisters, if you name the name of Jesus you are not common. You are in no way ordinary and you are most definitely not unclean. On the contrary, you are a peculiar treasure. UNCOMMON, I believe is the word.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) ⁹  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This was spoken by Peter to the Jewish nation and people first, but is a promise to all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus. We, you and me as individuals, are a people for His own possession. LET THAT SINK IN. WE, YOU AND ME, NEED TO GET THAT TRUTH WAY DOWN DEEP IN OUR SOULS.

This world today will try and make you common. The enemy of your soul does nothing BUT call you unclean and common, before God and man. Even those around you sometimes will attempt to manipulate and make you feel common.

BUT NOT GOD!

1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV) ¹³  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
¹⁴  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
¹⁵  but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
¹⁶  since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”


Not holier than thou, not self righteous, but HOLY. Set apart. Called out. Special.

UNCOMMON.

Psalm 111:6 (ESV) ⁶  He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.



God Bless