I have set you apart from the nations to be my own. (Lev. 20:26)
WHEN KATE MIDDLETON married Prince William of Britain, her life changed forever. In addition to the normal adjustments that any new marriage brings came the reality that she was no longer a commoner. She was now a member of a royal family. This impacted everything from what she would wear to what she would say and how she would spend her time. She was no longer part of the everyday world. When she agreed to become William’s bride, she was set apart from common existence.
God set His people apart from all other nations. They were to be His. With this came an expectation of holiness. They were to live as His own. This expectation meant changes in everything from how they would speak to how they would behave and to how they would spend their time. This is what holiness entails.
When we came to Christ, we became God’s bride. We became His beloved. It’s a precious reality that should make our hearts sing for joy. And with this new status, we are set apart from other nations and other people. We are to live as His own. We must be holy, and our behavior, speech, actions, and everything else about us should reflect that. Because, as Duchess Kate has undoubtedly learned, being part of the royal family comes with as many expectations as it does privileges.
Ask God how you can better reflect your status as His beloved.
Diane Gardner lives in the San Francisco Bay area, where she enjoys theater, community events, and watching the sun set over the bay
