What makes somebody or something stand out?

It was 2003, and my parents, brothers, and I were on a family vacation to Los Angeles. While we were there, we decided to visit the world-famous Rodeo Drive. While we were traveling down Wilshire Blvd toward Nike Town, I noticed something that stood out to me, and to this day, I have not forgotten it.

Before I divulge what I saw, let’s talk about the opening question: What makes somebody or something stand out? Chances are we notice things when they are different than we are or different than what we have. We notice when people have a differentpolitical view. We notice differenthair colors, hair styles, or fashion trends. We notice when somebody makes a stand against what culture says is normal. Different causes us to stop and take notice.
I tend to give a lot of notice to cars, and I especially enjoy seeing really nice cars. As we’re driving, I’ll often point out a brand new Mercedes or a rarer model of BMW to my wife. I know the cost and value of those cars, and they impress me. So you’ll understand why what I saw that day in 2003 on Wilshire Blvd was impressive to me. As we drove toward Nike Town, I noticed on my left… a Ferrari dealership. Yes, you read that correctly. A Ferraridealership. It was something that stood out to me, because it was different than the usual. It was unique. It was special. To this day, it’s the only Ferrari dealership I have ever seen in person.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2.9 (KJV)

That word “peculiar” stands out to me as I read that text. One of the definitions for peculiar is “uncommon.”

You are “Chosen,” “Royalty,” “Holy,” and “Uncommon.” God has called each of us to be uncommon people. Unfortunately, I think we live our lives as the opposite; we live just as culture dictates.
My wife and I have a Ford Explorer. It’s a good vehicle for our family. It gets us where we need to go, and it’s a comfortable car. But not too many people notice our Ford going down the highway. We don’t turn too many heads. No one walks up to me at the gas station and says, “Man! I love your car! That’s a real beauty.” Why? Because it’s common. It’s expected. You can pass twelve Ford Explorers on the way to work every morning. It’s not that it’s a bad car. But it’s a common car. You’re not going to notice that Ford on the road… but if a Ferrari zips past you, chances are, your head will whirl around to try to catch another glimpse.

I think Christ-followers live life more like a Ford than a Ferrari. It should be the other way around.
What if we understood our value in God? That we are chosen, royalty, holy, uncommon? What if knowing that value caused us to live life with such confidence that we could live an uncommon life full of God’s love to the world?

What If… we traded hate for Love? Guilt for Grace? Carelessness for commitment?

What if we loved and blessed our enemies? What if we repaid wrong with right?
Do you think people would stop and take notice? Could your uncommonness inspire someone else toward becoming “peculiar people?”

Somebody stands out because they have made the decision to be different. They have decided to tithe when it’s more popular to argue about tithing. They have decided that church is the focal point when it’s more popular to fill your schedule with “other” activities. They have decided that family is priority when it’s more popular to chase careers and material things. They have decided to handle conflict with Love when it’s more popular to blast the other person on Facebook and Twitter.
The Fords in our life go unnoticed, but what if we lived more like Ferraris?