1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
The phrases used by the apostle Peter to describe Christians indicate that Christians are to be different from the world.
God has long desired His chosen people to be different from others. When God delivered the Israelite law to Moses at Mt. Sinai, it was intended to set the Israelites apart from other nations. If they chose to follow God’s commands, they would be very unique.
New Testament Christians make up the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16), and are called to be different from “spiritual Gentiles,” i.e. those outside Christ’s body.
Christians should be different in our very purpose in life. While the world focuses on temporal things, we are to center our lives on God. Pleasing and glorifying God should be our goal.
As the Holy Spirit through Paul instructed the Corinthian brethren, “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Later, Paul stated that his aim is to be well pleasing to God (2 Cor. 5:9). Such an aim is far different from the world’s focus.
Our aim to please God should lead to differences in who we are. The world’s wisdom encourages individuals to be proud and do what pleases self. The world’s wisdom teaches that we should seek prestige, possessions, promotions, power, or whatever “makes us happy.” Such teaching is centered on a character of pride and self-centeredness.
Yet, Jesus says it is the meek who are blessed by God (Matt. 5:5). Christians are not taught to seek preeminence, but to lower ourselves for the glory of God and the benefit of others (cf. Luke 22:24-26). Having this character will make us different from the majority.
The differences in why we live and who we are should lead to differences in how we live. When others are making plans to go to the local bar, Christians may be spending the night praying or studying the Bible with friends or family members. When others are counting their money to buy their “dream” house or car, Christians may be counting their money to give to those in need.
Just as Jesus was set apart from the world, His followers are to be set apart from the world (Rom. 12:2). There is no reason to be ashamed of these differences. Rather, there is reason to rejoice for the chance to follow in Jesus’ steps, and be a light amidst the darkness (Phil. 2:15).
Let us choose to live for the glory of God and not be ashamed of the differences that result.
– Michael Hickox