A CALL TO BE DIFFERENT

Leviticus 18:1-5

INTRODUCTION- In this passage God reveals Himself three times (Lev. 18:2, 4, 5) and every time it was immediately after an instruction. You see, this passage was a reminder for Israel to be His Holy people. He was reminding them not to be like any of the other nations that they had dwelt in (Egypt) or would be going through (Canaan). Israel was called to be different, and they were shown how to be Holy, set apart, for God. We are going to see that the same instructions apply to us as well, and we also need to heed “A call to be different.”

I. Called to be different by telling people about God. (Lev. 18:2)

A. Moses was commanded to give Israel Instruction from God.

1. Moses takes this task to instruction a stiff-necked nation (Deut. 4:5)

2. God is ever merciful, though even He becomes exasperated by how little we heed Him (Jer. 16:21).

3. To this point Israel had continually turned its back on God (Jer. 32:33)

B. The sinful world doesn’t want to hear the truth, nor do they want anyone else to hear it. (Romans 1:18)

1. God’s word has become a reproach to the world (Jer. 6:10)

2. The world will ignore what should be followed (Jer. 17:23)

C. The world around is callous and has taken to sin. It doesn’t see anything wrong with it, and sometimes even glorifies bad behavior. (Ephesians 4:18-19)

II. Called to be different by being like God, not like the world. (Lev. 18:3)

A. The Israelites lived in Egypt for over 400 years, they knew their culture well, and were told not to be as they were. Cruel. (Proverbs 28:16a; 12:10)

1. But instead be this way towards people (Matthew 5:44).

2. Although, always keep in mind that there

B. The Israelites were to travel into Canaan, who were known to be immoral idolaters.

1. These people worshipped everything BUT God (2 kings 17:33)

2. But we are to worship in Spirit (John 4:23-24)

C. Today, our world has seen every type of sin, most of which are masked as being “not so bad” (Romans 2:6-8).

1. We shouldn’t be bothered by being counted as different (Matthew 5:12)

2. To are heavenly father, we were created to be set apart, Holy for Him (Lev. 20:26)

III. Called to be different by leading a life that attracts others to God.

A. Moses was told to tell Israel that they should “walk” in God’s ordinances. (Ephesians 5:8; Galatians 5:16)

B. Moses was told to tell Israel that they should “live” in God’s statutes (1 John 3:6)

C. Our life should portray who we serve (Romans 13:12; 1 John 2:6)

CONCLUSION-

· In the times of Moses, the times of Jesus, and even today, we’re called to live differently than the world around us. We live in the world, but God called us to be different than the world. God instituted rules that brought Israel closer to Him and separated them from godless practices of the pagan people around them.

· Jesus showed us that it was important to move our heart towards God, and not just make it look like we followed Him. He showed us how to repent, how to forgive, how to have compassion, and how to love people. Our hope rests in Jesus as the one and only savior, who fulfilled the law, and provided the Good News, that our sins are forgiven.

We’re different from the world. That’s how God wants us to be.