(Photo by Selma Komisky)

Editor’s Note: July, 2021

By Sarah Komisky

Distinctness. I definitely think it’s something we all admire. Down the hallways of our minds, we totally remember that person in school who didn’t go with the flow. That person was noticed. Whether they were accepted or not is irrelevant. What matters is that they managed to grab our attention. And maybe, we remember even more the ones who stood up for something good. Perhaps, you yourself were one of those people. The one who dared to raise their hand and ask questions in the classroom, the person who defied social norms and wasn’t scared to befriend someone of a different class status., or that person who just had their own, crazy, style, and those, who simply dared to be themselves. They visionaries, trendsetters, those who simply led by example. Whatever the scenario, those people are all individuals we all instinctively admire and wish to be for having the audacity to go against the grain.

Taking it back to the Bible, I can think of a few of the examples. Moses forsook the riches and glories of Egypt to save his people, the Israelites. David was bold enough to step out and trust God as a youth confronting a giant. Daniel and his friends defied a king and a belief system that went against their allegiance to God. Esther risked her very life to recue the Jewish people from alienation. Ruth courageously left her homeland to stand by her friend and mother in law, Naomi in rebuilding life. And, we’re just talking Old Testament here! Others like John the Baptist, the disciples, and Mary Magdalen, Mary and Martha, and Saul, executor of Christians, turned Paul, author of the bulk of the New Testament. Wow. Talk about distinctness.

Now, these people aren’t just characters that we would read about in something like “The Odyssey.” These people were real people who had a real choice just like you and me to be set apart from the masses and stand up to honor God with their lives. They, just like us were faced with challenges, pressures, and opportunities to blend in, stay silent, and not step up, but they defied the odds and became history makers.

While blending in can seem innocent, it doesn’t involve risk. We our morals, our beliefs, our influence when we choose to stand back and sit on the sidelines because of fear. Ultimately, we loose ourselves. Today, more than any other time, it’s easy to fit in. It’s easy to not take the high road for fear or rejection or push back, however, we are Marked Ministry Magazine want to encourage you to live differently. Why? Because there is beauty in the marked life. The life that chooses to honor God and out of that is blessing.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” You reader, are imperfect but you are not ordinary. You are unique and have a distinct calling on your life that can lived out with the help of God. Therefore, we want to invite and equip you for this distant calling. The road is not easy, can be painful, and certainly isn’t perfect, but, it’s well worth it.

And, how will others know who God is if we Christ followers are afraid to say we follow Him and are not willing to take a stand? No one will know the amazingness of what it means to embrace a distinct calling and live a distinct life if we are too afraid to rock the boat and live differently from the world around us. Now, I want to say this is not meaning doing life perfectly, but rather, choosing to say I want to honor God and others with my life choices.

To spur us on, we have various articles on the subject and an exclusive interview with dynamic advocate, speaker, and author, Christine Caine. We also hope you enjoy the colorful photos that depict the journey of distinctness.

As mentioned earlier, we all remember those who stood out in school (maybe you’re still there), remember distinctness is a honor. A choice we have to step into calling and influence. How will you use your distinctness to honor God and the life He has given you to make your mark on this world for good?

Be encouraged,

Sarah