Stay in your lane

I heard a pastor on television this morning say 'if you are doing something good in this world, you will have critics.  The only way not to have critics is to do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.'  Our critics can be family members, friends, co-workers, or people who just do not like us on sight.  You know those people who look the other way every time you walk into the room. 

Some people succumb to the pressure and decide to go with the flow, follow the crowd, because it is easier to go along and get along.  These people do not realize that the crowd really does not care who they are, but as long as they stay in their place everything will be fine. 

There are those of us however, who have decided that we do not need the crowd to survive.  We know what we have been called to do and we are in hot pursuit!  When we are in hot pursuit it can be lonely and confusing, but we know deep down why we are here.  I don't know about you, but once God told me why I was put on this planet, he set the wheels in motion for me to pursue. God does not direct us toward a goal He has not created us to achieve.  When we mess up, He does not put us aside and use someone else.  He has a purpose for all of us in His Kingdom. He will use our mistakes to guide us toward the very same goal.  He does not waste anything!

Do we need friends, family, and associates?  Of course we do.  Someone else said 'No man is an island.'  We need each other, not to use each other, but to help each other, to uplift each other.  But if we know there are people in our lives, or even strangers, who do no want us to 'surpass' them or some other family or friend, then we must recognize what is happening, pray for these people and let God work in their lives while He continues  to work in our lives.

Some of you may know the story of Jesus when he was just 12 years old, he and his parents went up to Passover which was an annual custom in their day.  On their way back home they realized he was not with them!  They had to back track, and found him teaching the adults in the Synagogue!  They were upset with him asking him why he did this. '...And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.' Luke 2:49-50.
 
  Do not stop, stand still, say nothing, and do nothing, when you know why you are here.  That is displeasing to God.  Ask Him for strength, and keep on moving!