Tag Archives: set apart

December 18

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Titus; I Peter 1:1-2:12

The older I get the more I feel like I don’t “fit in” to my world. I don’t find funny the things many people seem to laugh at. Like commercials where grown men act like little girls or play “Jingle Bells” in their boxers.

I don’t watch most sit-coms because I just don’t see the humor in sexual overtones or portraying fathers as idiots. My definition of “having a good time” doesn’t involve alcohol. I get angry when I see pictures of sad, abused puppies plastered on TV with the attempt to get me to contribute to the ASPCA when there are thousands of babies – human beings- who are being murdered every day and I don’t see their pictures on TV telling me how unfair that is. I believe legalizing homosexual marriages is a slap in the face of God. And I am sad to think what kind of world we are fashioning for my great nieces and nephews.

I don’t appreciate the trend of churches to entertain on Sunday mornings, emphasizing a “worship experience”, or pastors who jump around and tell jokes. I crave meat when there is just too much puff pastry.

No, I don’t fit in. But Peter says that’s ok. In fact, he encourages us to live as aliens and strangers in the world. He reminds us that God tells us to be holy as he is holy. And that involves abstaining from sinful desires, living such a good life that people will notice and want what I have in Jesus.

I don’t want to pout about not fitting in. Who wants to be around a Debbie-Downer? I want to express my love, my joy, my Savior to everyone I meet. I hope they see me as different. I pray they see me as better.

Dear God, thank you for saving me. I pray that my life will stand out, that I won’t compromise what I know is true in order to fit in to a world that is running from you. Give me strength. And may someone be drawn to you today because they see a difference in me and want what I have in you.

August 3

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Jeremiah 46:1-28; Daniel 1:3-21, 2:1-49; 2 Kings 24:7

Lately I have been considering what a life ‘set apart’ means. It seems God has been nudging me toward this idea often as I read his Word. 

People I hold dear have differing opinions. Some drink alcohol, some don’t. Some watch sit-coms on TV, some don’t. Some go to R rated movies, others don’t. 

Is ‘set apart’ an attitude? Is it a life-style?

Daniel is certainly an example of a life set apart. He refused an order of the king so as not to compromise on his commitment to the Lord. And we read that Daniel was blessed by God because of his decision.

Once again I am reminded that as a Christian, my life needs to look different than that of a non-Christian. The choices I make every day need to reflect my association with Jesus Christ. If I abstain from certain things in Jesus’ name I also need to do so with joy, in love.

Daniel’s eyes shown. He thought more clearly and was wiser as a result of his abstinence. And the king noticed the difference.

May others notice a difference in me and want what I have. May they see Christ in me and be drawn to him because of the life I lead.

August 1

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Jeremiah 7:1-8:3, 11:1-17, 15:10-21, 22:18-23, 35:1-19

What is it that your unsaved friends see in you that’s different – better – than what they have? What is that tangible sign that sets you apart as a believer in Jesus Christ? I hope it’s more than the fact that you attend church every Sunday. Millions of people do that and still don’t know the Lord. I hope it’s more than that you call yourself a Christian because ‘Christian’ means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Can your friends identify Christ in your life by the purity of your speech or do you use vulgar language and tell the same off-colored jokes as they? Do you go to movies with blatant sin and call it entertainment? Do you watch those sit-coms and laugh at things that disgust God?

The Recabites chose not to drink alcohol. (yes, not everyone in the Bible drank wine) These people had made a vow and were determined to keep it. They stood out in the crowd. Their life-style identified them as sons of Recab.

The world is looking for a sign. And they are looking at us. We can stand apart and still be actively involved in the lives of our unsaved friends. Don’t think you have to look like them to win them. Look like Christ and they will be sure to be drawn to you.

Let our life-style look different than that of the unsaved. Let’s stand out because of the choices we make. And let’s show a lost world that serving Christ is the best, most awesome life-style ever!

June 23

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2 Chronicles 24:17-27, 25:1-10; 2 Kings 2:17-18, 4:1-44, 13:4-11, 8:1-6, 12:19-21, 14:1-6

Amaziah wanted to do the right thing. He prepared the men of Judah for battle and even paid a hundred thousand Israeli soldiers to fight with them. It cost the king about 4 tons of silver, but with the extra troops Amaziah felt Judah was unstoppable.

But God sent word to Amaziah to send the Israelite soldiers home. The nation of Israel was still disobeying God and God could not go with them into battle. In fact, even if they fought courageously God would overthrow Judah for uniting with Israel.

Amaziah said – what about all my silver? And the man of God told him, “God can give you much more than that.”

Paul warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14) for the same reason Amaziah was warned to separate himself from Israel’s army. It’s one thing to befriend an unsaved person with the intent of leading him to the Lord. It’s another to join forces with non-believers and find yourself compromising to do so.

Remember God can’t tolerate sin and if you hitch your wagon to a sinner God won’t bless you. And if you find yourself worried about what you’ve invested in the relationship, remember the words of the man of God in 2 Chronicles 25:9. 

The Lord can give you so much more than that.