“You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 14:2
No one really wants to stand out as “different”. We want to be accepted and included. Popularity is considered success. It is not easy to stand out or stand alone. Whether it is how we dress or look or act, we find comfort in “fitting in”. We are comfortable when we can agree with others and they agree with us.
Standing up as a Christian is often uncomfortable, lonely and ridiculed. How can I be holy and happy? Love! That seems like a strange answer. It really is not. How do we act when we love someone? We want to please, show love, be all we can be for that person. We want what pleases them. We are interested in what interests them.
If we love our Heavenly Father the most, is that not true as well? As a child, I wanted my Dad to be pleased with me. Should I not want to please my heavenly Father as well? Should I not desire to be “Just like Him”? As I grow spiritually, I understand more of what pleases God.
I remember someone stating, “if you are ever accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I am to be holy as He is holy. This is a lifelong task and will never be completely achieved until I reach heaven, but I sure want to take on more and more of His image until I get there…and really, when I do, it feels pretty good inside.