The Call to Be Different

I have had the privilege this fall to co-lead the high school boy’s Bible study with Howard Hermes. One of the things we most recently talked about was the call to be different. As Christ-followers, not only are we called to be different, but we are MADE to be different. Being different is not a call to act “strange,” but to rise above the norm and live a life that glorifies Jesus Christ.

A verse that I used for this call is Romans 12:2. Paul writes here, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Even as apprentices of Christ, we must remember we are not OF the world, but we are still IN the world. We still battle temptations and find ourselves in dark places. As we are called to be the light of the world, we can do so by renewing our minds.

You will find as you renew your mind and heart, the worldview you hold will begin to change. You begin to see people how Jesus sees them – made in His image. The discrimination and destruction we see in our world today is a stain left by sin. As we become different, we become peacemakers. Jesus says, quoted in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” As peacemakers, we have an obligation and a duty to change our thoughts and actions, so they align with God’s. Is there an area in your own life where you need to make a change? Let’s become different together!