Do Things that Set You Apart

“John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” John 3:4-6 NIV

When most people make plans to celebrate their birthday, they usually choose something the world considers fun, like going on a trip, having a party, or shopping with friends. They certainly don’t plan to run an hour for every year that God has allowed them to live. But that’s the very thing I’ll be doing at the Snowdrop Ultra 55-Hour Race today to celebrate (with sleep and eating breaks of course) my recent 55th birthday on December 23. 

What will make the day even more special, though, is that my husband (sweet Larry) will deliver a Gospel message and prayer prior to the start. Being allowed to bring Runner's Church to the event was one of the main reasons we chose to celebrate my birthday in such an uncanny and unusual way. 

“Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’” 2 Corinthians 6:17

You see, Larry and I view the entire world as a missions field and recognize that our lives belong to the Lord and are to be fully used in service to Him. As if wanting to run more miles in a year than many people put on their cars didn’t set us apart and make us weird enough, our love for the Lord and the lengths we will go to preach the Good News certainly does. But that’s okay to be called weird. In fact we love it! We are called to be “separate” from the world and to abstain from the idols, ideas, narratives, and customs of the world. 

“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’” Matthew 3:1-2

John the Baptist was certainly someone who was clearly and without a doubt “separate” from the world and was considered weird as well. Not only did he wear clothes made of camels hair with a leather belt around his waist, he ate locusts and wild honey and preached a radical message, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

People traveled for miles to see John the Baptist because he was so set apart. John wasn't a soft religious leader but a powerful, prophetic voice preparing the way for the Messiah, drawing huge crowds from Jerusalem, Judea, and the Jordan region for his baptism of repentance, urging people to confess sins and turn to God. He confronted hypocrisy, calling people to radical change and prepared the way for Jesus and pointed people to Him. 

So, rather than looking for ways to fit into the world, look for ways to stand out from the world my friend. Keep your needs simple so you can invest your time into doing those things that point people to Jesus. And then consider it an honor when people call you weird. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that we are to be so set apart that the world takes notice. Help us to live so on fire for you Lord that people are inspired to ask us why we don’t conform to the patterns of this world. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!