Living Set Apart: Embracing Holiness on Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Be Holy Because God is Holy

God calls His people to be holy, not as a suggestion, but as a command rooted in His own character. Holiness means being set apart, dedicated to God’s purpose, and reflecting His goodness and righteousness in our daily lives. This isn’t about being perfect, but about being available to God, letting Him shape our hearts and actions so that we live differently from the world around us. When we choose holiness, we are responding to God’s invitation to live a life that honors Him and shows others who He is. [32:05]

Leviticus 11:45 (ESV)
“For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to live differently, to be set apart for Him today?

Day 2: Holiness Is About Who You Belong To

Holiness is not about achieving perfection or following a list of rules, but about belonging to God and letting that relationship define your life. Just as a special pair of shoes or a uniform is set apart for a specific purpose, your life is set apart because you belong to Jesus. This means choosing to live differently—not to be better than others, but to reflect the love, kindness, and truth of Christ in all you do. Your identity as God’s own shapes your actions and sets you apart for His purposes. [48:11]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Reflection: How does knowing you belong to God change the way you see yourself and the choices you make today?

Day 3: Being Set Apart Means Making Bold, Everyday Choices

Living a holy life starts with small but bold steps—choosing kindness over gossip, forgiveness over holding grudges, and saying no to things that pull you away from God. Holiness is practical and real, showing up in your friendships, your habits, and even your conversations. Sometimes, being set apart means separating from relationships or habits that don’t help you grow closer to God, so that you can be set apart for the things of His kingdom. [54:23]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection: What is one small but bold step you can take today to set yourself apart for God?

Day 4: God Heals What Holds You Back from Holiness

Often, the things that keep us from living set apart are wounds or fears deep in our hearts—like the fear of being alone or abandoned. God doesn’t just command holiness; He wants to heal the very places that make it hard for us to follow Him. When you bring your struggles and questions to God, He meets you with His presence, reminds you that you are seen and loved, and begins to heal what needs healing so you can walk in holiness with freedom. [59:05]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Reflection: What fear or hurt do you need to bring to God today so He can heal you and help you live set apart?

Day 5: You Can’t Reach Others for Jesus If You Don’t Look Like Him

If your life looks no different from those who don’t know Jesus, it’s hard to show them who He really is. When you meet Jesus, you change—your habits, your words, your love for others. Holiness is the answer to the sadness, loneliness, and unhealthy patterns that weigh you down. As you let Jesus change you, you become a light to others, showing them that real transformation is possible and inviting them to know Him too. [01:00:45]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: In what way can your life reflect Jesus to someone around you today, so they see the difference He makes?

Sermon Summary

Tonight, the focus is on the goodness and faithfulness of God, and the call to live a life that is holy and set apart—not by accident, but on purpose. Holiness is not about being perfect or following a list of rules for the sake of rules, but about being available to God, letting Him shape our hearts and actions, and choosing to live differently because we belong to Him. The book of Leviticus, often seen as difficult or irrelevant, actually centers on this idea: God is holy, and He calls His people to reflect that holiness in their lives. Holiness means being “set apart” (kadosh in Hebrew), dedicated to a special purpose, just as certain things in our lives—like a favorite pair of shoes or a dress uniform—are reserved for special occasions.

Being set apart doesn’t mean being weird or fake, but being full of love, kindness, and truth. It’s about living in a way that is noticeably different from those who don’t know Jesus, not to feel superior, but because we belong to God and want to reflect His character. This difference is not about outward perfection, but about an inward willingness to let God work in us, to separate ourselves from habits, relationships, or environments that pull us away from Him. Sometimes, this means making hard choices—stepping away from certain friend groups, habits, or even relationships that don’t encourage holiness.

The challenge is to ask honest questions: What do I need to be separated from? Why am I hesitant to set myself apart? Often, the answer reveals deeper wounds or fears that God wants to heal. Holiness starts with small but bold steps—choosing kindness over gossip, forgiveness over bitterness, or simply saying no to things that don’t honor God. When we allow God to set us apart, we become more like Jesus, and our lives become a testimony to those around us. We can’t reach others for Christ if we look no different than those who have never met Him. The invitation is to choose one way, today, to be set apart, trusting that God will use even small steps of obedience to transform us and those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Holiness is about being set apart for God’s purpose, not about achieving perfection. God’s call to “be holy because I am holy” is an invitation to live differently, reflecting His character in our everyday lives. This difference is rooted in belonging to God, not in following rules for their own sake. [32:05]
2. Being set apart often requires honest self-examination and the courage to separate from relationships, habits, or environments that hinder spiritual growth. Sometimes, the hardest part is asking ourselves why we resist change, as the answer often reveals deeper wounds or fears that God wants to heal. True holiness involves letting God address these areas so we can walk in freedom. [57:02]
3. Living a holy life is not about being weird, fake, or superior to others, but about being full of love, kindness, and truth. Holiness is seen in practical choices—how we speak, who we spend time with, and what we prioritize. It’s about letting God’s truth shape our actions, even in small, everyday moments. [44:00]
4. We cannot effectively reach others for Jesus if our lives are indistinguishable from those who don’t know Him. Real transformation happens when we allow Jesus to change us from the inside out, making us living testimonies of His power and love. Our distinctiveness is not for pride, but for the sake of witness. [60:45]
5. Holiness begins with small but bold steps—choosing to act differently in situations where it would be easier to blend in. Whether it’s speaking kindly when others gossip, forgiving someone, or saying no to unhealthy habits, these choices set us apart and open the door for God to work in and through us. Every step of obedience, no matter how small, matters in God’s eyes. [65:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:46] - Singing of God’s Goodness
[24:39] - Community and Greetings
[25:28] - Introduction and Series Recap
[27:51] - Holy and Set Apart on Purpose
[28:25] - The Role of Role Models
[31:13] - Leviticus and the Call to Holiness
[32:05] - Be Holy Because God is Holy
[34:03] - The Main Point of Leviticus
[35:53] - The Purpose of Rules
[38:27] - Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Law
[40:04] - What Does “Holy” Mean?
[41:08] - Kadosh: Set Apart
[43:23] - Holiness is Not a Suggestion
[44:00] - Living Differently, Not Weird or Fake
[45:32] - The Analogy of Set Apart Shoes
[47:18] - Holiness in Everyday Life
[49:39] - Questions for Self-Examination
[51:21] - The Challenge of Friend Groups
[53:07] - Habits and Being Set Apart
[55:34] - Setting Yourself Apart to Reach Others
[56:29] - Honest Questions and God’s Healing
[59:54] - God’s Presence in Loneliness
[60:45] - You Can’t Reach People if You Don’t Look Changed
[62:46] - Practical Ways to Be Set Apart
[65:46] - Holiness Starts with Small, Bold Steps
[66:18] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[67:22] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[69:18] - Dismissal and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Leviticus 11:45 (NIV) — > "I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy."

Observation Questions

In Leviticus 11:45, what reason does God give for calling His people to be holy?
According to the sermon, what does the Hebrew word “kadosh” mean, and how does it help us understand what it means to be holy? [[41:08]]
What are some examples from the sermon of things or people that are “set apart” for a special purpose? [[45:32]]
How does the sermon describe the difference between being “set apart” and being “weird or fake”? [[44:00]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does God connect His own holiness to the call for His people to be holy? What does this say about our relationship with Him? [[32:05]]
The sermon says holiness is not about being perfect, but about being available to God. What does it look like to be available to God in everyday life? [[45:32]]
Why might someone hesitate to set themselves apart from certain habits, relationships, or environments, according to the sermon? [[56:29]]
The sermon mentions that being set apart is not about feeling superior to others. Why is this distinction important for how we live and interact with people who don’t know Jesus? [[47:56]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to ask, “What do I need to be separated from?” Is there a specific habit, relationship, or environment in your life that you sense God might be asking you to step away from? What makes this difficult for you? [[49:39]]
When you think about being “set apart,” do you ever worry about being seen as weird or losing friends? How can you handle those fears in a way that honors God? [[51:21]]
The pastor shared about his own struggle with wanting to fit in because of a fear of being forgotten or abandoned. Can you relate to this? How might God want to meet you in that place and help you find your identity in Him? [[57:38]]
The sermon says that holiness starts with small but bold steps, like choosing kindness over gossip or saying no to something unhealthy. What is one small, specific step you can take this week to be set apart? [[01:05:46]]
The pastor said, “You cannot reach people for Jesus if you look like someone who has never met Him.” In what ways does your life look different (or not) from those who don’t know Jesus? What would you like to change? [[01:00:45]]
Sometimes, the reason we don’t want to change is because of deeper wounds or fears. Are there any fears or hurts that might be holding you back from living a holy life? How can you invite God to heal those areas? [[56:29]]
Think about your daily routines—at school, online, or with friends. What is one area where you want to reflect God’s character more clearly? What would it look like to do that this week? [[01:06:38]]

Sermon Clips

Holiness in your life looks like you choosing to live differently. That's what being set apart means. It means I'm going to choose to live differently than people who don't know Jesus. What I'm not saying is I'm set apart and I'm better than everybody. That's not what I'm saying. Because Bible says we all fall short of the glory. Meaning we all make mistakes. [00:47:37]

Holiness is not about being perfect. It's about who you belong to. He says in Leviticus here, be holy because why? I'm holy and my heart for you and our hearts as disciples of Jesus is to be like Jesus because he's awesome and he's perfect and he is loving. [00:48:17]

So, the Hebrew word for holy, the reason why it's important because I'm not trying to just give you like a vocabulary lesson like this isn't class. Yo, the rain is stopping just now. We about to get into this. The reason why I give you some of these vocab lessons essentially, you know what what it feels like is the Bible was written where my scholars at, what was it originally written in? Hebrew and what? Aramaic. Right. Right. [00:40:18]

When God says be holy, does that sound like a suggestion? When your mom says clean your room, when does she want you to clean your room? Right now. I mean, it's small, right? like right now. So he's saying be holy because I am holy. He's inviting you to live a life that's different. [00:43:18]

I'm not saying weird and I'm not saying fake. A lot of people when they hear be different, they either think you need to be trendy. I'm not asking you to be trendy. I'm not asking you to be a trendsetter. I don't see like Jesus Jesus setting trends got him into a lot of weird and and horrible situations. [00:43:46]

What does it mean to be full of truth? Be full of this. This is the truth. This is the truth. This is the truth. Don't tell me about your personal truth. If it doesn't come from this book, it ain't true. God addresses everything that we could possibly face in our lives in this very book. [00:44:39]

So what do I mean by being set apart? Okay, watch this. Think of a special pair of shoes that you got. Think about your favorite pair of shoes or a special pair of shoes. What' you say? They're J's. Jay's some of y'all it might be your chunk class, your Crocs. You know what I'm saying? [00:45:39]

You don't throw them on for chores or to mow the lawn. You're not putting on your all-white air forces to go for a walk when it's raining outside. You don't put on your church shoes to throw out the trash. Those shoes are set apart. You catch what I'm saying? They're for a specific purpose. [00:46:16]

I believe I believe that God is going to disciple you and shape you so that when the time is right, you can be in that friend group and you can help be a light. But until then, you got to be set apart. Well, how am I supposed to reach my friends if I'm never around them? [00:55:07]

It's not about abandoning your friends. It's about setting yourself apart and being discipled by God so that when you return to this group, if God opens that door, you can actually do what God is calling you to do. And that's reach them. And that is love them the way they need to be loved. [00:55:34]

You cannot reach people for Jesus if you look like someone who has never met him. When you meet Jesus, you change. You do. You really do. Some of you, you need to change. Not because I'm pointing a finger at you. You need to change. You're a horrible person. That's not what I'm doing. [01:00:45]

You need to change because you're sad. You need to change because you feel alone all the time. You need to change because some of the habits that you're doing on a daily basis, they're not helping your mental health. Some of our mental health in the room, it needs to change because we're not healthy. [01:01:17]

I believe holiness is the answer. I do. I believe Jesus can change anyone. I really do. Listen to me. I really believe that this a this isn't this isn't a pastor just talking to you on a microphone. This is somebody who has literally been changed by Jesus. [01:01:41]

Holiness starts with small but bold steps. Write that down. Holiness starts with small but bold steps. And I'm done with this. [01:05:50]

We need to be set apart for some of the things of the world so that we can be set apart for the things of the kingdom. That's fire. If you don't write that down, you're missing it. We need to, and I won't harp anymore on that. We need to be set apart. We need to be set apart. [00:54:25]

Holiness in your life looks like you choosing to live differently. That's what being set apart means. It means I'm going to choose to live differently than people who don't know Jesus. What I'm not saying is I'm set apart and I'm better than everybody. That's not what I'm saying. Because Bible says we all fall short of the glory. Meaning we all make mistakes. [00:47:37]

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