Set Apart for What?

What is it that sets Christians apart from the world? Is it their righteousness? Is it the churches they attend or the people with whom they fellowship? Is it their callings or their giftings? Is it where and how they live?

Or is it the Christ in them?

And what does it mean to be set apart?

Too often, I hear people claim Christianity while isolating themselves from the world and judging those that do not live up to the supposed "Christian standard." I myself have done that countless times.

It is easier to cut myself off from the world and declare myself righteous and holy than it is to be in the world reaching out to others. But what makes me any different than the people outside of my bubble?

I sin daily. I struggle with pride. I don't always treat others with the love and respect that they deserve. I can be stubborn and unruly. I can get angry and vindictive. And I often feel justified in my wrong behavior. I am a reflection of the very thing I judge.

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things" Romans 2:1

The only difference between me and the world is the Christ that dwells within me and the grace and forgiveness I receive from Him daily.

While the reality of Christ's salvation sets me apart in one sense, the nature of Christ should compel me to be involved in the world around me.

Does this mean that I should partake in activities I know to be wrong? Not by any stretch of the imagination. What it means is that I allow God to position me in such a way that I am touching others with His life.

We cannot change the world unless we are in it. The world will not come to Christians - Christians have to be willing to go to it.

We have to recognize that the heart of God overflows with love for His creation. It may mean getting our hands dirty. It may mean forgiving people when it is most difficult. It may mean loving those that are hardest to love. It may mean lowering our expectations of people so that we can really reach them.

Christ has been challenging me personally in this area. He has been speaking to me to move beyond my own borders and prejudices and start connecting with people at the heart. My prayer is that I will be able to grow and meet this challenge daily so that other might come to Him.

Verse of the day:

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings

1 Corinthians 9:19-23