One of the leading UK insurance companies is using the slogan, ‘It’s our heart that sets us apart’ in their current advertising, presumably trying to convince potential clients that their customer service is more understanding and considerate than others. That may or may not be the case, but it does cause me to reflect on the truth of that statement when applied to us as Christians.

We have been saved by accepting Christ into our ‘hearts’, meaning that inner most core part of our being. Scripture tells us that, in doing this, we become a different kind of person. The apostle Paul makes this clear when he says, ‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life has gone; a new life has begun’ (2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT).

When the Spirit of God comes into our lives, He begins the work of transforming us into a new kind of person in the likeness of Christ. This is known as sanctification and is something which will continue until we meet Jesus, face to face. As this process continues, changes take place which make us that different type of person. Our attitudes, actions, ambitions, likes, dislikes, desires, and speech should all be affected as we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, Jesus (Colossians 1:12-13). Our culture becomes the culture of the Kingdom of God, and we now live under a different set of rules and laws which should influence every aspect of our lives.

The prophet Ezekiel shows us that it has always been God’s desire to change the hearts of His people, those who would seek after Him, from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). This means hearts that are tender and responsive to His will.

This change of ‘heart’ sets us apart as different to the majority of those around us, but it also presents us with the challenge about whether that difference is noticeable. In these days of political correctness and opposition to so much of what we, as born-again Christians, stand for it is so easy to compromise and blend in with the majority.

Sanctification can be defined as ‘the state or process of being set apart for a special purpose.’ For the Christian that purpose is clearly stated in 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT), ‘You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light’.

As we try to display the goodness of God in our lives, the words of an old Sunday School chorus by A.E. Rennix might be a good prayer to pray every day.

Prayer: ‘Let it be seen that with Thee I have been, Jesus, my Lord and my Saviour. Let it be known I am truly Thine own by all my speech and behaviour.’ Amen