“I am the Lord your God. You must not do as they do. . . .” (Lev. 18:2–3)
Expanded Passage: Leviticus 18:1-3
As a 7th grader, I made a distinct impression when I transferred from a Christian school in Arkansas to a public school in Kansas. My accent, use of Southern colloquialisms, and sheltered innocence made me an oddity to my peers. This situation was not ideal for a middle school girl desperately wanting to fit in and make friends. However, it did provide ample opportunities for me to share why I was different. It wasn’t just my manner of speaking that made me stand out, but my faith and how it influenced my daily life. My classmates were curious why I wasn’t interested in partying, dating, or casually making out, which opened the door for me to point to Jesus and how his way of love leads us to treat every person with honor and dignity.
Before the Lord presented his teachings to Moses regarding prohibited sexual relationships, he emphasized Israel’s call to be distinct from the surrounding nations. Of all the people groups, Israel was chosen to be God’s treasured possession, a kingdom of priests holy to the Lord (Ex. 19:5–6). This unique role meant they were responsible for representing God’s character and nature. The world would know God by observing his wisdom lived out by his people.
“Do not do as they do!” continues to resound as a call to all believers to be living demonstrations of his love.
Ask God to reveal how you can live differently in the everyday.
Shaunna Sturgeon is the pastor of the Watershed Collective, a microchurch movement in rural Kansas. She loves helping people discover God’s purpose for their lives.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
