Be Different

- Pastor Erin Ventura

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” - 1 John 15:18-19 (ESV)

Most times in our lives, we are scared to be different. Standing out only seems to create the possibility of being ridiculed, taunted, or excluded. But the truth is that we were never meant to be precisely the same as everyone else in the world. In fact, as Jesus' followers, we are commanded to be different from the people around us. Difference is celebrated within God’s Kingdom as we recognize the need for other talents, interests, and people. God created us all to be different and uniquely equipped for a purpose.

As you follow Jesus and hopefully grow to be more like Him, it is only natural to become different from the world. This is not only something to be proud of but something to aspire to. When we are different from the world, we create space for people to see and experience Jesus.

By acting against the world's standards and living according to God’s will, we raise questions that we should be excited to answer. Why would we forgive someone who hurt us? Jesus. Why would we abstain from an act commonly accepted by the rest of the world? Jesus. Why would we give our money away? Jesus. By being different and making a difference, we stand out and receive the opportunity to share about what and who makes us different.

Make a Difference:

Today, I invite you to do something opposite to our culture. Be generous to a stranger or respond kindly to a problematic encounter, and when people ask you why, tell them about Jesus.

As You Read:

As you read in Genesis this week, remember figures like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whom God set apart for a unique purpose. As followers of Christ, we're urged to embrace our distinctiveness, living counter-culturally to create space for others to encounter Jesus. By acting differently and explaining our actions through love and generosity, we offer a chance to share about Jesus when asked why we stand out.