In Ethiopia, Islam and Orthodox Christianity were very prevalent. Something interesting about it was that they wore small wooden pendants around their neck to showcase that they belonged to their church. You could walk down the street and see exactly what religion they partook in. It’s so much easier than in the states, where you’re never quite sure what anyone believes, unless they are vocal about it. Even when someone has a cross tattoo or wears a cross necklace, there’s a good chance it’s only for looks.
We as the church, the bride of Christ, are supposed to be set apart. That’s what the word holy means: set apart.
“Be holy as I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
Others should be able to visibly SEE and NOTICE that we are different. Just like the Israelites were renowned around the land of Canaan because of the battles their mighty God had won, and how the surrounding peoples were terrified of them because of the displays of His power, we should be recognized for our God. The God that actually moves- that is real and powerful.
This looks slightly different than it did in the Old Testament. While, in the OT, God’s people were conquering and obtaining land and displaying the holiness of God, we now display the power of God’s forgiveness, love, and redemptive transforming power. We show people how much we need God, how much He desires to save us, and spread His glory because He is so deserving of it.
But people aren’t going to value what we have to offer if we 1. Don’t tell them & 2. If they see no difference in our hearts than the hearts of the rest of the world. There are plenty of other options, other than Jesus, that look good.
It is crucial for the church to be set apart. It’s a command we need to take seriously. Believers are told to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Are we doing that?
Even within my squad of missionaries, there are several moments where we don’t accurately reflect Jesus. We don’t act like his representatives:
•When kids in the village threw rocks at us and we got angry, instead of loving them anyway.
•When all the food was set out for meal times and we took a portion that we knew was too big because we were extra hungry that day, instead of taking less so there was enough for everyone.
•When we saw the water jugs were empty or almost empty and walked away because ‘someone else would fill them up’.
•Sometimes there will be curse words said or God’s name used in vain.
This is how the rest of the world lives. We look out for ourselves and maybe other people once we’re taken care of. We do things that make us feel edgy or cool, even if it profanes God’s character. BUT. This is not the life we are called to.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Mark 12:30 & 31
Society lives by two words in this command: ‘love yourself’. In other words, this means ‘take care of ourselves’ or ‘think of yourself first’. But Jesus sets a different example. It’s one that we are meant to follow. Considering others more important than ourselves.
The Bible says in John 13 that others will know we are His disciples by the way we love one another. We are set apart when we know we’re loved by God and let Him love others out of the excess we receive. It’s not obligatory, it’s just a natural product of spending time with Jesus. This love is the pendant around our neck. It’s the sign of our God. This is how they’ll know.
•Hey everybody!!! I have not been good about blogging regularly, and I apologize! On Wednesday, I’ll leave Nicaragua to go to Costa Rica. Crazy!!! I’ll post more about that soon. Just under two months there and I’ll be headed home. It’s weird.•
*If you’d be interested in continuing to support me financially, I have an opportunity for you to do so! My plane ticket home is over $500 dollars, and I fly back into Georgia in June for PSL, where Gap squads get together and learn how to best adjust back into life at home. I’ll need to buy plane tickets there and back. If you’re interested in helping me with that amount, email my dad at:
Don‘t donate on my blog site because it won’t go to me, but into the general Adventures in Missions fund.
Thank You All!!!!
