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A Small Group of People

“A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE

This past Wednesday night we studied how Moses placed blood on the right ear, the right thumb, and the right big toe of the priests. It was a symbolic gesture to remind them that they needed to listen to God’s Word, to work or minister to the Lord, and to walk in His pathways. We discussed how right- handed people were considered virtuous while left- handed people were looked upon with disdain. Recent studies have shown that only about 10% of the population is left-handed leaving them in a small minority.

 

 I am left-handed and proud of it. Most left-handed people will admit that being left-handed has caused both inconveniences and difficulties during their lives. We remember those desks at which we sat that were made for right-handed people. When we tried to write or draw, our left arms were hanging in the air with no support. We remember pencil and ink smudges on our hands from dragging them across our writings. The thought of using a spiral bound notebook scared me as that wire was right in the way of my left hand. Scissors were an absolute nightmare as they mostly tore paper instead of cutting it. Even today, items like the computer mouse or musical instruments are catered for the majority. We even had special nicknames like “leftie” or “southpaw.” Yes, it is a right-handed world geared for the majority.

 

If you think about it, being a Christian is a lot like being left-handed. Christians are not in the majority. As Christians, we often find it difficult to fit into a non-Christian world. However, as Christians, we are to be unique, different, and not conformed to this world. In Romans 12:2, we read, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  In Titus 2:14, we are called “His own special people.” As Christians, we are to be different from the people of the world. We are to be different so that people will notice and ask why we are different. We are to live our lives so that we bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

 

In the book of Judges 3:12-26, we read of a wise judge named Ehud who was left-handed. Through his shrewd planning, he was able to save the children of Israel from Eglon, the king. In Judges 20:16, we read about “seven hundred chosen men from the tribe of Benjamin who were left-handed and could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.”

 

As a left-handed person in a right-handed world, I have learned to adapt. I made changes to the things  I do, but I did not give up my left-handedness to fit in with the world.  As Christians, we must not let the people of the world force us to conform to their ways, but we must remain a unique, different, and special people to the Lord.

 

                                    Written by Larry Schneider