“Drawn To The Difference” is October 7’s entry from Dr. David Jeremiah’s ‘Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions’.
"As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:15-16
People are often surprised when they meet a genuine, down-to-earth Christian, someone they can relate to. They don’t expect someone with such high morals to be so real and likable.
This perception is no doubt the result of a gross misinterpretation of the Christian’s call to holiness, and it is why we must change our perspective on how to live according to Jesus.
Christ never commanded us to be “holier than thou,” which by definition means “excessively or hypocritically pious.” On the contrary, when He tells us to “be holy, for I am holy,” He is referring to His ability to connect with sinners and yet keep His character and integrity intact.
That is the key to being effective witnesses, and when we learn to accept people where they are while standing firm in our convictions, they will be drawn to what it is that makes the difference in our lives.
To end, a quote from Charles Swindoll, “Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with every day need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just spot-on clean living. Honest to goodness, bone-deep, non-hypocritical integrity.”
