Are you standing out for Jesus?

God wants you to be different to everyone else – here's why.

What makes you different in your school?

Everyone is trying to be different. We only need to look around our school to see just how people try to make themselves different from others.

Some people rely on the way they wear their uniform. Others do their hair differently. Some choose a particular backpack, and others rely on music tastes or the television shows they watch to stand out from the crowd.

What things make you different from others at school?

God wants you to be different and unique too, but He doesn’t want you to rely on these things to make you different.

God wants you to be different!

God tells us how he wants us to be different in 1 Peter 2:11: "I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul". God is urging us to be different (be alien and strange) by following him. How do we follow him? By fleeing from sin (abstaining from sinful desires) and following God.

Living like this automatically makes us aliens and strangers – it instantly makes us different for God.

And what is the purpose of being different? Check out verse 12: "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."

God wants you to be different by following him and running from sin.

God wants you to be different because others will see how you live and God will be glorified. And ultimately...

God wants you to be different to bring him glory.

How can you be different for God's sake?

Go and have a read of 1 Peter chapters 2 and 3. God doesn’t just say: “be different” and leave it at that. There are plenty of areas where you can be different in a way that brings glory to God.

In particular, this year at school, take up the 1 Peter 2:13 challenge: "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men".

I’m sure there are heaps of ways in which we can be godly aliens and strangers in the world by submitting to authorities, and heaps of different ways that we can practically bring God glory. Here are some suggestions:

Bring God glory by obeying your teachers. Show them respect by doing what they ask of you (yes, even when they ask you to do homework!)
Bring God glory by not joining in when others slander teachers or subjects.
Bring God glory by doing your best in your subjects this year.
Bring God glory by respecting your parents decisions.
Bring God glory by not slandering your parents when they make decisions you don’t agree with.

As a Christian, how will you be different at school for God’s glory? Share your ideas below...