Set Apart – How are we Set Apart?

We’ve been learning lately about our position as set-apart daughters of the King of kings.  Each post by my fellow authors has beautifully illustrated our distinctiveness of being God’s chosen ones.  

Sarah encouraged us with a reminder: “You, dear friend, have been chosen, sanctified, and sprinkled with the blood of Christ.  You are loved.  Christ has placed his mark on you, his version of a wedding ring, to tell the world you are his.” 

Rachel spoke to us about our separate roles as set-apart girls: “We are to be set apart in every way! In the way we dress, the way we talk, the way we serve, the way we treat others, the way we worship, the way we learn, the way we enjoy entertainment. And this is not to be done in a legalistic way so that we are "better" than anyone but so that others might see something *more* in us than just another girl on the street.”

Julia told of glorious news of the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ, even when the world rejects us: “Have you ever been rejected?...

Guess what?

HE will NEVER reject you.

HE has CHOSEN you.

HE has SET YOU APART.

HE DIED FOR YOU. And ROSE AGAIN for you.”

And Rachelle explained our call to be set aside for service for Christ: “Being set apart doesn't mean being completely apart. It does mean being different enough that the whole world will know Who we serve. It means being His voice calling, His hands healing, His feet walking.”

   

All the posts have agreed and complimented one another.  We are different, set apart, called and chosen to be His.  We have a purpose in being set apart. 

     When praying about what I should write about, I was inspired to expound more on in what ways we as daughter of Christ are set apart from the world.  Some of the other girls touched on this, but I would like to encourage you with a couple things God has been teaching our family this year. 

1.        

1. God has chosen us to be like Christ.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” -1 Peter 2:21 ESV

Being placed in a position to imitate Christ seems like an insurmountable task.  Christ left us an example of a perfect life.  He loved perfectly, all the time.  He served tirelessly, no matter how He felt.  He suffered patiently, discounting all shame.  He died a criminal’s death, for those who spat and mocked in His face.  Be like this perfect Man?  Are you kidding? That seems impossible.  Would it be comforting if I told you that because we are redeemed daughters of God, this Perfect Lamb now resides in us?  He’s given us Himself, so we may be His hands, His feet, His voice to the needy world around us (and to those annoying people in your life that drive.you.crazy.).  “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”-John 13:15 ESV

2.       He has set us apart by our love.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:34-35 ESV

Our love for one another is to be the most distinctive characteristic of our Christianity.  It doesn’t mean we have lesser differences (how we look, dress or talk), but it means that our heart attitudes are much more important to God.  I’ve seen so many Christians who are very religious and conservative fail miserably in their attitudes toward their families, spouses and fellow Christians.  At the end of the day, whether we have been truly set apart daughters will deeply depend on how we have responded to trials, temptations, the little brother who pests who a little too much or how well we honored and respected our parents in word and thought.  We as Christians tend to measure our success as “honorable Christians” by our outward badges, instead of if we show unselfish, sacrificial, self-denying love for one another.  God chose us, however, for a very different outlook on life than the world.  He chose us to be His Love to one another and the world around us.  “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” -1 Peter 1:22 

Girls, we are called to something beautiful.  We are called to be like Christ and to love like Christ.  May we choose to walk in that distinctive, self-sacrificing call of a set-apart life everyday.