Set Apart

[Christ4Ever]

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the LORD in a special way, Numbers 6:1-2 NLT

In the Old Testament, a Nazirite was a man or woman who took a vow to set themselves apart to God so that He could use them for a special purpose.

When a man took the Nazirite vow, he promised not to cut his hair, to avoid consuming any product made from grapes (including wine), and to avoid making physical contact with dead bodies.

Jesus has set you as a believer aside for a special purpose, and He wants others to see that purpose in you. The apostle Paul summarized that purpose when he wrote, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

We Christian men are called to live lives that look very different from those who live by the values of this world. For that reason, we should examine ourselves regularly and ask ourselves whether our lives show that our hearts are dedicated to Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for setting me apart for Your service. Help me to live a life worthy of that calling.

 

[B-A-C]

Num 6:2 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD,
Num 6:3 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes.
Num 6:4 'All the days of his separation he shall not eat anything that is produced by the grape vine, from the seeds even to the skin.
Num 6:5 'All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long.
Num 6:6 'All the days of his separation to the LORD he shall not go near to a dead person.
Num 6:7 'He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.
Num 6:8 'All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD.

Jdg 13:3 Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.
Jdg 13:4 "Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.
Jdg 13:5 "For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines."
Jdg 13:7 "But he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.'"
Jdg 13:14 "She should not eat anything that comes from the vine nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; let her observe all that I commanded."
Jdg 13:24 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the LORD blessed him.

 

[complete]

'Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
.. separated unto the gospel of God,
.... (Which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures,)
...... Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
........ which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
.......... And declared to be the Son of God with power,
............ according to the spirit of holiness,
.............. by the resurrection from the dead:
By Whom we have received grace and apostleship,
for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name:
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.'
(Romans 1:1-7)

'But when it pleased God,
.. Who separated me from my mother's womb,
.... and called me by His grace,
...... To reveal His Son in me,
........ that I might preach Him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me;
but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.'
(Galatians 1:15-17)