Those Scriptures and many other Scriptures tell us that Christians are to love and live differently than the rest of the world. We're to think differently, talk differently, act differently, and even in some ways dress differently than the rest of the world. The key question is, "What does it take to live differently than the rest of the world?" Here are some answers to that question. To begin with, to live differently than the rest of the world we must Submit to Authority in our Lives. The Bible tells us that are to submit to: 1) God's authority (Exodus 20:3), 2) Scriptural authority (2 Timothy 3:16), 3) Governmental authority (Romans 13:2), 4) Parental authority while we're in our Parents home (Ephesians 6:1), 5) a Husband's authority (Ephesians 5:22-23), and 6) Pastoral authority (Hebrews 13:17) in our lives. To live differently than the rest of the world we must also Live with Integrity in our Lives. This means that we must strive to always: 1) Live out our Values (Proverbs 20:7), 2) Tell the Truth (Proverbs 12:22), 3) Keep our Promises (Proverbs 15:14), 4) Refrain from Stealing (Exodus 20:15), and 5) Refuse to Gossip (Proverbs 11:13). Third, to live differently than the rest of the world we must Commit to Purity in our Lives. Ephesians 5:3-5 says: "Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes - these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God." Then, To live differently than the rest of the world we must Make God's Will our Priority in Life. Jesus said, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33) When I look at what it takes to live differently than the rest of the world, I'm overwhelmed and think, "I can't do that." But then I'm reminded that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). And I'm reminded that I need to live, act, talk, and even dress differently than the rest of the world if I'm to convince the people of the world that they need a relationship with my Jesus. In order to live differently than the rest of the world, so I won't be known as a "hyprocrite," I have to often pray Paul's words in Galatians 2:20 where he wrote,  "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." |