Stand OUT or Stand UP?

An interesting concept.

I realized something last night at youth group when Pastor Brian did a lesson on just this: Stand Out, Stand Up.

Standing out for Christ is something we see a lot of with athletes and singers and those in the public eye. We see them standing out from the norm and praying in public or making comments in front of thousands of people about their profession of faith. How did they get there? Well, God gave them these amazing talents and blessed them with it. But these people also know the balance of standing OUT and standing UP. They have been able to Stand UP to their peers and in doing so, because of their leadership that God has given them, they Stand OUT.

However...most of us try to Stand OUT first. We try to be good at something or we try to look different or act different. But are we really stand out? Maybe God wants us to Stand UP first. Maybe we are to Stand UP for Jesus Christ to others. When we see people swearing or talking bad about someone else, maybe we should stand UP and tell them different. Maybe in our beliefs, if someone you know is living in a wrong way you don't approve of and they just don't get you, maybe you STILL will Stand UP for what you believe and not back down for what Jesus Christ has put on your heart. By standing UP we can make the little difference in the world and eventually that could catch on to millions. And maybe just then God will have you Stand OUT and put you in a place so that others will be able to see what you do. It's a fine balance, I do believe.

I guess I never realized you need a balance of each. And I believe God will give you that balance He wants for you, but you have to be willing to let God lead you in this area of your life and be open to the amazing things He will use in your life to let you Stand UP and Stand OUT. Are you willing to? Are you willing to go through a heart ache situation so that down the road God could use that situation to help others and to have other hears of Jesus Christ through you through the situation? Are you willing to Stand UP, even if you don't get noticed for what you do?

Lord Jesus, I always thought you had to Stand OUT to be able to make a difference in this life of ours. All I simply need to do is Stand UP and you'll take care of the rest. Thank you Jesus! I want to Stand UP for you and make the little differences in this world today. I want my attitude and my actions to be glorifying to You. That I might walk the walk and talk the talk boldly.