Differences

To be a Christian is to be divinely different.—Rev. Ivan Murray Rose

Among you it will be different. Luke 22:26 (NLT)

To live the life God wants you to live means that your life will be different.

It will be different from the times when you lived independent of His lordship, it will be different from the way the world system wants you to live, it will be different from the way the devil wants you to live, and it will different from the way many of the people you know want you to live.

The life God has called you to live is one that is set apart. It is not a life that is different for the sake of being different, but different because of righteousness sake. To walk in step with God’s way means that you are no longer walking in step with your own way or any other way. It means that you are placing your feet in the exact footprints of the One you are following and not running off to follow side-trails.

There are many differences to be found in a life that is following Christ. These differences are seen in our relationship with God, in our place in the world, in our purpose in life, in our personal goals, in our commitments, in our motives, in our values, in our choices, and in our beliefs.

One of the greatest differences is found in the attitudes of our hearts:

We are lovingly different—extending His love freely and unconditionally to others so they might be reconciled to the One whose love is unfailing.

We are truthfully different—believing the truth and loving the truth, we speak the truth and live the truth so that others will come to know Him who is the Truth.

We are mercifully different…knowing that God’s mercies are new every morning, we extend His mercies to those who have sinned against us, with the desire that each life may be reconciled to God through His Son.

We are prayerfully different…we pray in faith, we pray because of who God is and what He can do, we pray because of what God has said in His promises, we pray because we have the assurance that God hears us and answers prayer, and we pray because God has made a way for us to come to Him through the blood of Jesus Christ.

To open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me. Acts 26:18 (NLT)

So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. 2 Timothy 2:21 (AMP)

By Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

To live the life God wants you to live means that your life will be different.

Further Reading