Focus: Stand Out! (Pt.2)

Text: Gen.42:2

"And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die."

The whole world suffered from food shortage, but in Egypt there was a great abundance of corn, and Joseph was the brain behind it. He saved the world from hunger and starvation. He stood up, stood out, and made a vast difference in the world. From his base in Egypt he touched and saved lives around the world.

Moses is another individual that stood out in his generation. He made a mark in history. It is recorded of him that "the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth"(Num.12:3). He was noted for his meekness amid his great exploits in Egypt and among the people of Israel. He stood out in his time, established the nation of Israel, touched lives positively, and had his name enshrined in the annals of history.

David is another man who stood out amongst his own people. As he got older and lost so much of his sharp reflexes in times of war, his military Generals said to him, "Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel" (2Sam.21:17). The people saw him as the light of Israel. In other words, Israel would have found themselves in total darkness without a David. He was their light. On the other hand, David himself turned to his God, and said, "For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness" (2Sam.22:29). While the people cherished him as their light, he acknowledged God as his own light. The light of Israel was indeed the light of God shining through David.

The Generals also said to him, "Thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city" (2Sam.18:3). What that means is that ten thousand soldiers are equal to one David. David distinguished himself in Israel. He is seen as the greatest king of Israel. He led them and fought their battles. He simply stood taller than all others and stood out.

Solomon is another outstanding personality. The Scripture says concerning him, "For they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment" (1Kgs.3:28). Again we read, "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom" (1Kgs.4:29,30,34). By wisdom Solomon stood out and became the wisest king that ever lived. People came from far and near to hear words of wisdom from his mouth. He took governance, international politics and global diplomacy to a whole new level.

What about Job? James says of him, "Ye have heard of the patience of Job" (Jam.5:11). Job's patience quotient was extraordinary. In Ezekiel 14:14,20, God acknowledged Noah, Daniel, and Job as men remarkable in their days.

The followers of Christ also made their mark in the lives of others. Luke records of what happened on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them. He writes, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God" (Act.2:7,11). By the enabling presence of the Holy Spirit, they spoke in dialects that they had never learned. Ordinary Galileans stood out from the rest of humanity and blessed their world supernaturally.

John says about Jesus Christ, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (Jh.1:4). The life of Jesus Christ was the light of men. Men saw light through His life. Christ Himself said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (Jh.9:5). That is audacity! That is conviction! That is the words of a man who knew His place and role in life. "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." That is heavy. In His short life on earth He touched the world and stood out among men, and even till tomorrow, His name ranks the highest in the world.

I pray that you don't live for nothing. I pray that your life will count for something noble and unique. Time has come for you to stand up and be counted. It is time for you to live a life that counts. Stand out now!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter