But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God, who set you apart from the nations.
Leviticus 20:24
Yep! When God saved you, He made you different.
The Israelites are moving into this plush new land with all the good and favorable things, as well as all these new and interesting people. When I say interesting, I mean, they worship tons of God, they sacrificed their children, and they did unholy things with their spouses, their moms and dads, their in-laws, and even the family cow. These people looked different, they had different hairstyles, different clothing, and different piercings all over. Their differences made them interesting and as the Israelites moved in, God said, those people are normal, worldly, unholy, but I created you to be different; I set you apart as Holy. Go and be different in that lush land I’m giving you.
All my life I’ve been called different, and for a while, I’d definitely say, I let that word hurt my feelings. But then I realize God created me different for a purpose. He saved me as a small child, and set me a part for a specific plan when I was quite young. However, most of my childhood I just wanted to fit in with the world and that ended up harming me the most. But when he got my attention as a young 19-year-old, and showed me who he really meant for me to be, I realized my different was to make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven. I may act different, but in my difference I’m focusing on what and where God is calling me.
It’s so OK to be different, especially if you’re different is because of the work Christ has done in you. He has set you apart, and called you to live differently in this world.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
When God led the Israelites into the promised land it was as though he looked them in the eyes and said, I’m giving you something grand, but I need you to be faithful to me and be the people I created you to be. Don’t change to be like the people I’m placing you among. Let them change because of the difference they see in you. And you know what, when we become saved, I think God says the same thing to us.
Be the light; be the city on a hill; be different, so that others will see the difference God did for you and in you and want to know him and be different too!
Running 2 Fly 