"Holy" means separate or apart. Historically, there have been Christians who feel that in order to live as God's holy people, they have to withdraw from the world (hence the emergence of the monastic movement). But in Jesus's high priestly prayer in John 17: 15-18, we hear something different.

As a result, most Christians strive to live in the world, but not of the world, because we believe God wants us to transform the kingdom of this earth to be more like the kingdom of heaven.

It has been said that some Christians are so worldly that they are of no heavenly good, but there are others who are so heavenly that they are of no earthly good. We are to avoid these extremes.

We are to walk to the beat of a different drummer. Someone greater than us is in control of our lives. We are to strive to live lives worthy of God's praise and that glorify God. We are to be different people because in Christ all things become new.

We see life differently. We strive to love others and ourselves with the same unconditional love that God has for us.

We are called to be different in that Christians focus on truths that provide meaning and joy to life. We focus on the resurrection and not the grave. Hate shall not have the last word: love will.

The Apostle Peter states in his first epistle that holy living means exercising self-discipline in all we choose to do, actively showing love to others as God loves us and anchoring our hopes in what God has done, is doing and promises to do.

A difficult assignment? You better believe it, but we have the Holy Spirit to help us.

DR. GENE NORRIS IS A PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR.