What Isn't The Norm?

A couple of days ago as I rode home from work, nearing my stop, I informed the driver "I'll alight here", said thank you and hopped off. As a walked away, the word "alight" kept ringing in my head and the Holy Spirit brought an old incident to my remembrance.

It was when I was in my final year in High School, I got a lift from a friend's mom one day. As we approached my stop, with my jumpy Nigerian self, I said: " I will get down here ma". In my heart of hearts, I was right, until she went like, "it's alight,  not get down". To say I was embarrassed is an understatement, I was a final year student in High School, still being corrected for English. Chia, e pain me oh.


Well, although I was embarrassed, using the word alight was not the norm for me. We always said, "I am getting down". So even after that correction, I still used the word "get down" for a long while.

Don't judge me yet, there were reasons for that. Yes, the word "alight" was the correct thing, but based on what I grew up with, it was unusual. Secondly, it seemed really strange in my mouth to use the word. For one, I felt it would seem I was showing off: like I understood English more than others who use "get down". So for pretty much the rest of High School I used "get down", except I got an exclusive lift that required correct Queens English.

Fast forward to years after, I use the word "alight" now, and using "get down" might just be me being totally Nigerian. As I walked away from the bus, the Holy Spirit gave me some insight into how I had evolved into the use of the right word.

So here goes the lesson.

His question: " Do you see how this reflects the life of Christians?" 

Me: "We Christians, how now? "

Holy Spirit: "You guys are so used to the traditions and doctrines "the church" has laid out, when I correct you to move by my Spirit, you feel it is new and want to stick with the old way. "

Me: "Hmmm that is true oh."

It took a while, but the more I pondered, the more insight I got. How we restrict the move of the Holy Spirit in the church today. We want to live by routine. Service Starts at 8 am. Prayer 5 mins, Worship 20 mins, Word 40 mins, Offering and Closing Prayer.

The question is, what time do we then give to the Holy Spirit to move and perform? When we are watching the clock telling the Minister of God, he has 2 seconds left to preach and let you leave?

I am equally guilty of this, which is probably why I needed this lesson. Truth being said, we as Christians have grown to restrict the move of the Holy Spirit too much. In church and how we fellowship, and even in our individual lives, whereby when God wants to change things in your life, from the traditions, and norms you are used too, to His way, we say "oh Lord, it is strange, the world would look at me strangely". A good question to ask then is, whose opinion do you care about the most? the Creator or the Created?

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.Luke 12:4-5

It is time to set our priorities right. It is time for us to stop restricting God and the Holy Spirit to the norms of the world. It is crucial for us to remember we are Not Of This World, and thus move by His Word. 

Remember you are Spirit, so move by the Spirit.

Cheers.