“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1).

Oftentimes, in my Christian walk, there is a bit of loneliness. I have to live a certain way because I am not part of the world. And because I am not “among the crowd,” I cannot engage or participate in the things our society defines as acceptable.

“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 6:17

Beloved, you and I are separate; we have been called. We are required to act a certain way and think above the existing culture. We are also called to share Messiah with those God brings into our lives.

I am meeting new people all the time. And you know, people that are from the world, they speak and behave as those that are “earthly minded.” But those of us who have our eyes set on heaven and are born again have a different value system. We speak a different language; we talk about different things. We exalt absolute truth. We are set apart.

We are unique. You and I are called. We have been selected to live apart from this world. We must accept that our godly stance can sometimes create a divide or a negative response from people.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
Think about Paul’s life and how mistreated he was because he was set apart. He was beaten, ridiculed, and maligned. In fact, he wrote most of the New Testament while in prison.

Consider the people of Israel. Even though they are God’s firstborn covenant people, look at the price that the Jewish people have had to pay. They have been persecuted and hated ever since their call. And beloved, we should expect the same. We must be willing to suffer the reproach of our calling.

“Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).

Apostle Paul also said,
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10).

There was this dual fellowship that Paul was experiencing in his walk with Messiah. On the one hand, he knew Jesus in the power of His resurrection, but on the other hand, he knew Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings. He knew what it meant to be rejected for Yeshua. He knew what it meant to feel lonely because he was not being received. This is also part of our call and destiny. We have been set apart. So be encouraged; know that Father loves you and know that you will be rewarded for all that you suffer and give up because of your love for Him.