1 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:
The phrases used by the apostle Peter to describe Christians in the above verse indicate that Christians are to be different from the world. The word “holy” emphasizes the need for God’s people to be set apart from the darkness of the world to glorify Him.
God has long desired His chosen people to be holy. 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. This is connected to His desire that Israel of the Old Testament be His holy people.
New Testament Christians make up the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16), and are called to be set apart from “spiritual Gentiles,” i.e., those outside Christ’s body. Christians make up the church, which is God’s holy nation today. The holiness God demands of Christians (1 Pet. 1:15-16) leads to stark contrasts between the world and Christ’s followers.
For instance, 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.
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 was 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 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 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. The things we do with our time (Eph. 5:16), the way we dress (1 Tim. 2:9), and the way we speak (Eph. 4:29) will all be different from the world if we live as we should.
Just as Jesus was set apart from the world, His followers are to be set apart from the world (cf. John 17:16). 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).
Moreover, there is reason to rejoice for the chance to give glory to God, which is the ultimate aim of those who belong to Him. May we live holy, upright lives, and thus proclaim the praises of Him who called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
– Michael Hickox