(Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Pray Like Jesus! Pray for Special Distinction! – CLICK HERE)
(Well, I guess I’m not back in the rhythm after vacation…sorry for missing a post yesterday! Hopefully when it’s not in your inbox, you still pull out your Bible and spend time with the Lord and his Word!)
What sets you apart?
It may be a sports team. We are in the middle of the NCAA basketball tournaments. As you look at the crowds, the team colors and uniforms and facepaint definitely distinguish one set of fans from another! One can tell by when a fan cheers what team they are supporting.
We may be distinguished by our career. I am a pastor opposed to a mailman. One is an engineer and another an electrician.
We may be distinguished by accomplishments. Maybe you were the valedictorian of your graduating class. Maybe you sold the largest contract for your company. Maybe you provided an insight that turned a declining business into a profitable one. Maybe you invented something that had never been made before.
Maybe we are set apart by our culture, language, or part of the world in which we live.
There are many things that can set us apart. In fact, subconsciously we look to find our significance in our uniqueness.
On the other hand, there are times we don’t want to be different or stand out. To gain the acceptance of friends, we may conform to what they like and engage in the things the others do. To keep our job, we fall in line with the company policies even though they may go against our personal beliefs. We keep our mouth shut with neighbors to avoid a confrontation on differences you know exist.
Jesus wants us to stand out. He wants us to be different than the rest of the world, but not in a weird way, but in the Word way.
As Jesus prays for his disciples he asks the Spirit of God to “sanctify” them, that is “set them apart.” It wouldn’t be by how they looked, what culture they embraced, or the language they spoke. It would be by the Word that was proclaimed to them and was working in them.
John 17:15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Easy to say. Hard to do.
The Word of God is counter to many things our secular culture proclaims as truth. To say there are only two genders may not be popular. To say there is only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ may come across as narrow minded. To claim that all are sinful at birth instead of naturally good, doesn’t sit well with many.
What we believe and what we do and how we live will always be different than the world.
But when we do, we are seeing the answer to Jesus’ prayer.
And that’s what makes us stand out…in a good way.
Apply: What area of life have you been blending in instead of fully living in and by the Word of God? Ask God for boldness to overcome fear and live as one who stands out and stands up for the truth of God’s Word.
Prayer: Father forgive me when I blend in and am not bold to stand out as you desire. Empower me to always live by your word of truth…even when it is very different than the world around me. AMEN.