Let’s get real for a minute about the faith to which we profess to hold. This month we’re talking about what it means to be “undignified”, knowing that our Savior, the Son of God, was undignified Himself in terms of a worldly perspective. The objective of our faith in Jesus Christ is to enter into and remain in fellowship with Him, throughout the various things that we face this side of Glory, and even more so in eternity. If we are truly following Jesus and becoming continuously conformed to the will of God and to the character of Christ, we will inevitably become more and more undignified in the eyes of the world.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in the view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
– Romans 12:1-2

We have to be willing to be undignified to the world, even though such a place is diametrically opposed from the human desire to be accepted and built up according to the opinions of man. We have to be okay with our peers not being okay with us at times. There will be times of rejection or being left out of the group (I speak from experience here). Can you handle that? Let’s get deeper; would you take risks for your faith? I mean risks like your family disowning you, or worse, knowing that you’ll likely lose your life for what you hold to. Fortunately not many of us have to face such persecution, but it is one of the costs we must consider. Another is, are you willing to let go of sin? When you come to the realization that something is preventing you from being in fellowship with the Father, are you willing to walk away from it and chase the Almighty?

If you’re walking with Christ (and I hope you are), do a self inventory and ask yourself these questions regularly to ensure that you are in step with the Savior:

1. Who do you want to be like? (That is, is the desire of your life to be like Christ?)

2. Who do you want to be with? (Do you love the people of God and desire to be in fellowship with them? Does this mean you never get around those who are lost? Of course that answer is no. But do you DESIRE to be around and do life with other disciples?)

3. Who do you look like? (Difficult at times, but still very simple: do you look like Christ, or do you look like the world? The trick with this question is that you will never be able to truly say “yes” while still living on earth; however, it is possible to affirmatively answer the question, “Do I look more like Christ every day?”)

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ in in you? –unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”
– 2 Corinthians 13:5

Be transformed. How do you know if you are being transformed? Ask questions and examine yourself against Scripture. Being undignified bears more responsibility than we might think.

David Henderson
Student Pastor