Are you singled out?

Hey everyone. This will be the first post on the Book of Romans for me. This is going to be a long series on it. It will mostly be verse by verse(not word by word since I’m not that knowledgeable of Greek and Hebrew yet). Like I usually do, I will try my best to have an application that we can have for life with each verse that we study. If you see anything that you believe that I missed or got wrong, I will gladly accept your constructive criticism and we can talk about it then.

“Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God’s good news” — Romans 1:1

Hcsb Bible

So we could talk about a few things about this verse. We could focus on the word ‘slave’(servant in other translations), we can talk about the Good news(and we should always do). We can also focus on what the word Apostle means but for today, we will focus on the phrase ‘singled out’.

So what does it mean to be singled out? We all remember growing up (at least in the United States), we would choose teams in a game and eventually there would be the last person left. That person is singled out. Whenever you are in class, and the teacher chooses you to stand up and answer a question that was asked fix a problem that’s on the board. And in both cases, you were singled out and separated from the group for a reason or more, whatever it may be.

The Bible even says in Leviticus 19:2 and 1 Peter 1:16 that we are to be holy for God is holy. At the base of that word means to be singled out or separated. In both cases, God is telling us that we are called to be different from those around us. To be more like God himself. Just like Paul was singled out for Gods good news and to be an apostle to spread the message to the gentiles, we too are called to be different. We too are called to be singled out amongst the world for Gods good news.

So in every case, there might come some consequences for being different(Holy, singled out). In the case of being picked last for a team, you might feel embarrassed and picked on. For being picked out to answer a problem on the board, you might feel embarrassed as well, especially if you don’t know the answer and then you feel stupid in front the class. T

hen for Paul who is writing this letter to the church in Rome, he experienced much worse consequences for being singled out. He was beaten within an inch of his life. He ended up being shipwrecked on an island at one point. He ultimately died a martyrs death according to tradition in the very city that he is writing to in this letter.

You too, might also experience these same consequences and we as followers of Christ need to be ready for it. But also, you may not as well. It is ultimately up to God to determine that.

But there is a reason why being singled out is so great. It’s because we are being singled out for the Good News of Jesus Christ. We have an eternal home in paradise. We also have a father in heaven that will never disappoint us. We also have a relationship with Jesus that can never be severed unlike so many relationships in this world.

So what does being singled out for Christ look like in everyday life?

Well to be honest, you will not be friends with the world at all. You shouldn’t be, especially since they hated and killed Jesus and they will hate you too. Your opinions and beliefs will differ greatly from what most of the world says and thinks. Especially on the controversial issues in modern day.

Just as a part of life that I’ve noticed and applied in my own life. If a majority of the world(unbelievers, governments, people that hate the Bible) believe or say a certain phrase or doctrine, I am always cautious. Even when I can not immediately refute it. Either because I haven’t studied the subject enough or it is a new idea to me.

The reason I say this, is because most ideas and beliefs that the world has, are just recycled from previous eras and the world at large doesn’t like the good news of Jesus Christ.

So when you are in agreement with all of the world, be careful. Unless it agrees with what the Bible truly says, don’t be in agreement with them. Get used to being singled out for your beliefs. It’s a great thing to be singled out for Christ.

Since you will be different from the rest of the world, you will need to give and receive correction(if needed in the situation) with gentleness and respect. It’s very easy to get militant about our beliefs just as the world gets militant about theirs, but we need to be respectful but also bold in our beliefs.

So at the end of this, are you being singled out? Are you being separated for Christ and the Good news? And if you have any questions or disagreements on this post, or how to be like Jesus, comment below or message me and I’ll respond when I can. I hope you have a great day.