Don’t Be Different AloneSample

Redefining “Different”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “You weren’t created to fit in. You were made to stand out”? It’s supposed to be encouraging … but how does it really make you feel? Nervous because the people who stand out seem to be the ones who get picked on? Excited because you really love being different and unique? No matter where you land with those questions, keep reading because we’re going to talk more about what it means to be holy and why that matters to you and me.

You’d think we’d be more okay with “different” because the primary motto of our culture goes something like this: Be true to yourself.

But how do we actually see that play out?

You can dress to express yourself, as long as you don’t wear that. You can say whatever you want to whoever you want, as long as you don’t say that to them. You can believe in whatever, but you’ll be shunned if your views aren’t exactly mainstream. Freedom of speech and expression are great—until your freedom rubs up against a wound someone else has experienced.

Clearly, our experience of “different” is flawed at best and actually damaging at its worst. What do we do?

It’s time to redefine “different.”

When Jesus stepped on the stage of history, He was altogether different from what people expected. He was a different kind of king who introduced an upside-down kingdom.

Jesus is not the kind of king who sends His people to die for Him. He’s the kind of king who willingly sacrificed Himself for His people.

Compared to the kingdoms of this world—where the strong rule over the weak, kings lead with self-serving decrees, and people with power oppress those less fortunate—Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom where the greatest serve the least, the king leads with sacrificial love, and those with power use it for the good of others.

All that sounds great, right? But, there’s no denying that Jesus’ different way of life was what led to His death. Religious people hated Him, the marginalized were drawn to Him, authorities didn’t know what to do with Him, and His disciples left everything to follow Him.

Jesus was different, and people had very different reactions to Him. But, there is no denying that more than any other person who has ever lived, Jesus left His mark on history—to the point where we literally mark time based on His life.

How did Jesus define “different”? And how did He invite us—or, rather, reinvite us—to live lives that stand out? That’s what we are going to discover in this Plan. For now, what you need to know is that the biblical idea of being different is called being holy.

The word “holy” means separate, sacred, or set apart. It speaks to absolute purity and blamelessness.

And God is holy. He’s separate and set apart. When the biblical authors say things like, “LORD, there is no one like you! For you are great, and your name is full of power” (Jeremiah 10:6 NLT) or, “No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God” (Psalm 86:8-10 NLT) they are speaking to God’s holiness. There’s no one like Him. He’s in a class all of His own. And yet …

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV

So, we are called to be holy like our holy God, to be pure, blameless, and set apart—to be different. Is that even possible? And if it is, is it actually desirable? We live in a culture where the fear of standing out is real because it’s hard to face pushback. But this is exactly what God is asking us to do. Why? And how can we actually do this?

Those are the questions we are answering tomorrow.

Challenge: This Plan is called Don’t Be Different Alone, so send the link for this Bible Plan to a friend right now, and let’s keep moving forward together.