Your first thought immediately goes to teenagers. Am I right?
Turns out, peer pressure might begin during our teenage years; but it CERTAINLY doesn't end there!
I learned years ago, through the wonders of Myers-Briggs, that my personality type is called ISTJ. Should you desire, here is more about Myers-Briggs and more about this personality type: Myers-Briggs ISTJ I notice here that the ISTJ personality is called the Duty Fulfiller. I also learn that I have a need to decide based on facts and EVIDENCE.
This precious season of my life, what I am facing right now, brings much peer pressure. People who are PRECIOUS to me are making decisions that don't match my decisions. They are making decisions using EVIDENCE that the Lord has simply NOT provided to me.
It's important to say that those dear to me are not making BAD decisions; they're just feeling led to choose DIFFERENTLY. Our paths diverge.
The temptation to decide as they have decided, and cling to them because they are precious, is tremendous and overwhelming.
What is the over-riding voice of this temptation?
What voice do I hear in my head?
It sounds like this: "They MUST know something you don't know!! You NEED to find out what they know so that you can turn the same direction that they are turning...before it's too late! Demand their EVIDENCE!"
The voice carries with it two senses: one of conspiracy and the other of urgency. This voice is NOT the voice of my Lord. Jesus doesn't speak to me this way. There is an enemy to my soul, who continually lies to me, who speaks this way.
How easy it would be to give in to this voice! Simple. Quick. And, sadly, there would be LOADS of loving support from those around me as I turned to join this small crowd.
But I choose, instead, the way set before me by Jesus Himself. The difficult way. Complex. Slow. And, sadly, many of those around me might find themselves confused.
This morning, during a short quiet time, I was reminded why I must choose this way.
In Proverbs 3:3 (just before the famous 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."verse) we find that Solomon, easily the richest and wisest man to walk the earth to this day (move over Bill Gates), providing this wisdom:
"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart."
You can read more about this verse here: Proverbs 3:3
My favorite part of the human commentary on this verse is when the commentary writer encourages us to "reckon it as your greatest honour, glory, and beauty, that you steadfastly adhere to these things" and continues on to say that "nothing makes a believer look more lovely in conversation than a close regard to the truths of Christ, and a constant walking in his ordinances."
At our New Harvest Church there is a steel beam holding up the entrance to the lobby. These words are cut into the metal of that beam: Jesus Full of Grace and Truth.
Hundreds of years after Solomon encourages us to wear grace and truth around our necks like a beautiful scarf for all to see and admire, Jesus arrives to say, "I AM the way and the truth and the life..." (John 14:6)
Today, as I wrap myself in "mercy and truth" I ask Jesus to provide the determination that I will NOT look to the left or the right (Joshua 1:7) and I will fully depend on Him to provide every bit of EVIDENCE I need to make the decisions that HE ALONE wants me to make.
All I've ever wanted is that my life would stand in testimony of His Goodness, Mercy and Truth and leave a legacy of loving and following Him.
Even when those around me are making seemingly "good" decisions that tempt me to join; I will rely on Jesus to provide me with His BEST!
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