The topsy-turvy values of the world

Doing good works is not the way to earn favor with God...as if favor could be earned in the first place. "Faith without works is dead," though good works arise from the abundant overflow of God's love, rather than through human effort. Yet how often I go about life backwards.

The Christian life should not be a life of striving, trying to impress God and others, trying to obtain "perfection." Christ Himself doesn't fit our typical concept of perfection. He is sinless, and He is the Son of God, so He is indeed perfect; however, He wasn't handsome or successful by worldly standards.

Christ didn't have fancy credentials or polished social skills. Today, He would not be living the American Dream. He was entirely honest; there is no pretentiousness or deceit in Him, as there is in most of us.

Christ's character proves that God's priorities are not the world's priorities. Status, money, and power are important to the world; therefore, the world applauds people who are selfish, inconsiderate, shallow, vain, and narcissistic. To the contrary, God values humility, kindness, a quiet life of obedience. His pace is not frantic like the world's pace. He considers a gentle and quiet spirit to be of high value. Where the world sees weakness, He sees strength.

The Opposite of God's Beauty Standard

Popularity is important to the world, yet those who sincerely follow Christ will be unpopular. The world will reject true Christians and hate them without cause. That has been my experience, and the experience of other genuine Christians I know.