Living Every Day With The Opposite Life In MindSampel

The Opposite Life Grows God’s Kingdom in Our World

This life of doing things in the opposite realm won’t feel instinctual at first. But once you start renewing your mind with God’s Word, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and applying these new principles, you will see results that will turn your world upside down and inside out.

As we grow stronger in our faith, and stand by our commitment to live God’s way, we learn to genuinely love those who persecute us. We learn to respond in love instead of reacting in offense. Imagine how the world could be impacted if followers of Jesus all moved in the opposite spirit to that which we find in our cultures. Imagine if Christians actually practiced what we are instructed to do in the Bible. The gospel is meant to be conveyed in deeds, not just in words. Talk is cheap, but the gospel in action is priceless and has the ability to change the world.

Just like Jesus asked the disciples to come and follow Him, He is inviting you to do the same and begin the journey of moving in the opposite spirit. God may ask us to do things completely opposite to what we ever dreamed or imagined. He may require us to live in a way that makes no sense whatsoever to the average person in our surrounding culture, or even to us. We have to make a choice to partner with His ways and His methods. Aligning ourselves with God allows us to fulfill the plans He has for us.

We know that God chooses those who are completely opposite of what society might expect. Jesus is a prime example of this. He didn’t look attractive. He was unimpressive to His culture. Jesus immediately set the stage for the opposite ways of the Kingdom by the way He began His ministry. He came as a servant to be our example for what it means to go low, in order that God would be raised up. Jesus identified Himself with the sinful people He came to serve.

Jesus was the Word made flesh according to the gospel of John ( see 1:14). He was there in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth. And now He had come to earth to save what was lost. But instead of lording His power over people, He humbled Himself and made Himself of no reputation, eventually enduring the cross. Jesus was not what anyone expected in the way He came down from heaven, in the way He began His leadership through serving and submission, or in the nature of His role—and yet many were completely drawn to Him. He was working on the Kingdom withinmankind.

This opposite life is a mystery that requires faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior. If we are willing to do this and view the world through His eyes, we will see that His kingdom blueprint is a masterful plan to remove the Enemy’s hold on the world and bring redemption. As we love your enemies, as we serve others and put them first, as we give without expecting anything in return, as we extend forgiveness where it isn’t deserved, all in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will see the miracle of the kingdom of God coming to earth.

Respond

What struggles do you feel as you seek to live an opposite life? How does the Enemy try to influence your choices?

Why is it important to live out your faith in the world? 

Who is impacted the most by your choices to live like Jesus? What do your choices mean for the kingdom of God?