Be Set Apart

I’ve heard before about the idea that being holy means being “set apart.” I get the idea that I am to be different from my typical selfish human response. And I’ve realized that sometimes that feels so very overwhelming! How different am I supposed to be? Am I supposed to be different from others in EVERYTHING I do? Won’t people think I’m a freak?
Sometimes God makes unique connections for me so that I have a visual. There’s a story in the Bible (John 8 to be specific) where Jesus is hanging out in the temple. The story reads in such a way that you get the idea Jesus goes to the Temple every day so that he is where the people are, easily found and readily available. The narrtive opens with the Scribes and Pharisees finding him. They drag in an adulterous woman and in the Amplified Version it says they make her stand in the center of the court. The visual in my mind has these men pushing an embarrassed, mortified, barely covered woman into the center of a wide open area and then quickly distancing themselves from her presence. I imagine them pointing at her and with loud voices telling Jesus, and everyone in the vicinity, her sinful story in descriptive detail. They intentionally draw attention to her faults and failures, more concerned with their agenda than the individual they ridiculed. It’s as if they never really saw her.
As I saw the story play out in my imagination, I was horrified. My heart was weeping as I realized they were stripping this precious woman of her value.
I wondered if I’ve behaved like the scribes and the Pharisees. Do I get so intent on my agenda, my things to do, that I strip another person of his or her value? When I’m in a hurry at the store, am I rude to the person helping me with my purchase? As I push my cart through the grocery store, am I considerate to the elderly man creeping slowly down the aisle in front of me or to the mom trying to shop and corral three grumpy children? When I’m driving home and am focused on all the things I still have yet to do, do I glare, obviously annoyed, at the cautious driver I zip around?
I know if one of my friends brought this line of thought up and asked me if I thought she was acting like the Pharisees, I would aim to reassure her with the idea that she wasn’t acting with the same intentionality as the Pharisees in the story. But when I tried to rationalize my own behavior, I had to face the truth that when I act in such a manner, I am concerned with only me. To live as someone “set apart” I need to become more aware of ALL the choices I make. I can’t assume that all my reactions are godly; I need to take the time to process and purposefully choose each behavior. I need to be in tune with my emotional state, and be honest about selfish or unkind behaviors that could come from uncontrolled emotions. I don’t want to fall into the habit of  believing my agenda is more important than any person I encounter.
God wasn’t finished giving me visuals; He continued to reveal the story to my imagination. I’m aware that in the story, the author emphasizes Jesus writing in the dust. I’ve participated in discussions contemplating the idea of what Jesus was possibly writing in the dirt. As the scene played out in my mind, I was struck by the idea that Jesus didn’t stare the Pharisees down. Jesus made his statement and then went back to occupying himself with drawing in the dust. He honored the inherent value of the Pharisees by providing them the opportunity to face their own sinful choices without condemnation. He treated them in the exact opposite way that they had treated the adulterous woman. I know that when I’ve been in a “serious discussion” (translation: argument) with someone, and I’ve just delivered my zinger line, I want to keep my eye focused on them. I want that moment when I’m proven right. When I act in such a manner, I’m choosing my agenda over valuing another person. Jesus’ example shows me a need to stand for truth AND then I need to allow truth to do its work all by itself.
God still had more to teach me from this encounter. Jesus chose to look at the woman no one else wanted to see. He looked at her, he talked with her, and he accepted her where she was in that moment in time. He didn’t ridicule her, condemn her, chastise her. Jesus offered the woman three things: forgiveness, hope and freedom. Jesus offers her forgiveness when he tells her “I don’t condemn you either.” Then Jesus tells her “Go. From now on, sin no more.” (John 8:11, Amplified) With a simple “go” Jesus instructs her to move forward from this moment and live life. Jesus doesn’t want any of us to be stuck in a moment that brought overwhelming fear, ridicule or pain. Jesus offered this precious woman hope that she didn’t need to live as a victim or with bitterness. Lastly, Jesus offers the woman freedom from the sin that had trapped her in a life that was all about selfish desires. Jesus values who she is by challenging her to live as she was created to live: honoring the One who forgave her and gave her life hope.
Jesus set an example for me to accept people where they are, period, no conditions. Jesus set an example of offering forgiveness before someone changes his or her behavior. Forgiveness is a gift emphasizing someone’s God-given value. Jesus’ example teaches me I am to encourage others to move forward in life; I am to value others and choose to treat them in a way that doesn’t encourage an attitude of bitterness, or leads them to believe I see them as one who is unacceptable or unforgiveable. Jesus’ example provides me with the purpose of discipleship. When I value others, I believe they can be more than they imagine with the help of the Holy Spirit. God places people in each of our lives to influence for His glory and He calls us to make disciples; to teach others the ways of living a God-honoring life.
First Peter 1:15, in the Amplified version says, ” [Be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]. ” I’m not to physically set myself apart from others. This world may not be my home, but it is my current residence. While I’m living here, I am to live out Jesus’ example, showing  godly character and moral courage → just like Christ did with the adulterous woman. It’s time to set aside my selfish agenda and choose to treat others kindly, see each individual’s value, stand up for truth, offer forgiveness, hope and freedom. It may sound a bit overwhelming if I had to do it all on my own. Thankfully the call to be holy, the command to be set apart, comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
To God be the glory.