One of the most interesting things that God calls us in Scripture (a virtue I think I perfectly exemplify) is peculiar. Otherwise known as “weird,” it seems odd that the Lord would define His followers this way, yet distinctiveness is exactly what we need in order to thrive and make a difference in the strange time in which we’re living. Unfortunately, in recent history, the Church has become decreasingly unusual and much more normal than it ought to be. Unlike the believers who gathered after Pentecost and were full of the Holy Spirit, we’ve surrendered our call to be bizarre and settled instead for blending in. In the New Testament, all sorts of radical things were happening, and those who followed Jesus found themselves taking communion and eating “His body” together, selling their possessions, giving up their livelihoods, and abandoning all they knew for the sake of the Gospel. Regrettably, we’ve moved away from these kinds of practices in our “me-centric” culture, but the truth is that God’s plan for His people hasn’t changed. Our Savior desires that we stand out against the norms of society, and though the cost of this kind of discipleship is great, He is still looking for people who are courageously emboldened to do radical and unprecedented things for His Kingdom!

My friend, the Lord wants you to be hot in your affection for Him, not lukewarm! Living set apart starts with a choice to say yes to an unpopular life, whether that means sacrificing to care for an orphan or widow, standing up for injustice in the face of persecution, or giving all you possess for the sake of those who have even less. Because you were brought out of darkness and into His glorious light, God has equipped you to live boldly and peculiarly in His Name. While your life may look outrageous to the watching world, your willingness to forfeit what others hold dear enables them to see Jesus in and through your conduct loudly and clearly!