SET APART – Leaving the Edges to Follow Jesus –

The Call to Be Set Apart
Pastor Calvin Cook – June 17,2025
Scripture focus – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

One of the things facing us daily in our lives and in the life of the church is the ability to realize that we who claim Jesus, we who have been bought with a price, who claim Jesus the Christ, who came from the center of heaven into the center of the world and our lives to do for us and in us more than we could ever ask for or imagine. In that we have been set apart. We are part of an unshakable, holy nation. We have been brought out of darkness into life.

In a world that is centered on self and getting by and blending in, the call of God on our lives is anything but ordinary. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” Peter reminds us that our identity in Jesus is set apart from the rest of the world. We are not meant to mirror the culture around us but to reflect the holiness and glory of God bringing change and bringing powerful change.

In the book of Acts, we see the early followers of Jesus stepping away from the religious norms of the day. The church was not meant to be an extension of the established religion or an institution that merely mimicked the culture. Instead, the early believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, became something entirely different, a people set apart. They were a people who lived with radical love, shared everything in common, and pursued the mission of God with boldness and purpose. They became a new kind of community, one that was distinctly shaped by Jesus’ teachings and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Are we still that church today?

These early believers didn’t just gather in the name of religion—they became the church, living out their calling to be a royal priesthood and a holy nation. They embodied what it meant to be set apart, rejecting the comfort of familiar traditions and stepping into a new way of life, marked by love, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as the first believers became a people set apart, so too are we called to live as a distinct community, set apart for God’s purposes.

To live as a set-apart people means that our lives should look different. Our relationships should reflect Christ’s love and grace. Our speech should be seasoned with kindness and truth. Our actions should serve the needs of others, with the purpose of sharing Jesus and the Gospel with everything and in every way. In all things, we are called to declare the praises of the One who saved us.

As you go through your day, for us who claim Jesus, remember that you are a part of something greater a chosen people, set apart to bring glory to God. The world needs to see a living example of what it looks like to walk in the light of Christ. You are His ambassador, called to reflect His glory, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that stands out for all the right reasons.

Now, it is up to us to go deeper. Through prayer, reading Scripture, and engaging in holy conversations, let us listen to how and in what areas the Holy Spirit is preparing us to be set apart. Part of being set apart is recognizing and setting aside those things that have kept us captive—whether it’s the chains of sin, unhealthy patterns, or the weight of the world’s expectations. Only when we let go of these things can we live into the fullness of God’s calling for our lives. May we be bold enough to step into that freedom, embracing the fullness of what it means to be God’s special possession, set apart for His glory

Prayer Holy Spirit, thank You for calling me to be set apart for Your purposes. Help me to embrace the distinction You have placed on my life. Empower me to live in a way that honors You, to reflect Your love, and to declare Your praises. May my life be a witness of Your marvelous light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflective Questions
1. In what areas of your life do you feel called to live differently from the world?
2. Are you cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s work in making you more like Christ?
3. What are some practical ways you can declare God’s praises in your daily life?