“SEPARATED”

Good morning to everyone. Last week the sun was shinning and the weather was warm and this week it is cold and dreary, but either way, it is the day the Lord has made and we are to rejoice in it. I am thankful to be able to see one more day and that the Lord allowed me to be in His house and around His people.

Our pastor preached on separation today and this has sparked some thought on my part and the topic for our devotion this week. What do you think of when you think about separation? Is it always a bad thing to be separated? Are we to be lonely during a separation? What does God expect of us when He says we are to be separated?

Leviticus 20:26 says, “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” Numbers 16:9 says, “Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them;” Romans 1:1 says, “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God” John 17:13-20 says, “13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 says, “20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” Hebrews 2:11 says, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,”

Separated. Does that word scare you? For many it does. Just the mere thought of being alone or by oneself, scares the daylights out of some people. When we read God’s word, we see God instructing His children to be sanctified, separated.

Does God expect us to be all alone? No. God’s word is teaching us to be separated from the world and all that is unholy. We are to congregate in fellowship with other believers in Christ. God doesn’t expect us to hold up in some closet and avoid the world, that would be unrealistic and God knows that.

We should live a life that if we were arrested for being a Christian, there would be enough evidence to completely convict us in a court of law. There should be no doubt about where we stand. This means if you are standing by the water cooler and someone starts to tell an off color joke, you either try to stop them or you walk away. If you are at the copier and someone tries to share a little gossip with you, you tell him or her you don’t want to hear that mess. If you are flipping through the TV channels and you see someone half dressed or worse, you don’t stop and fantasies, you move on. If you are on the Internet and something pops up inappropriate, you X out of it.

How ashamed would you be, if your pastor came to your house and turned on your computer and researched your history? What if he were to look through all your movie collection? What if he looked at your cable and or phone bill and your text messages?

You may say, “What difference can I make?”. Well one man was separated for you and His name was Jesus. All those who followed Him and swore allegiance to Him abandoned him. Even His Father had to turn away for a moment, but He allowed Himself to be separated and sanctified for you and for me. So, one person can make a difference. You may say, “I’m not Jesus”, and that is true, but God used Moses to lead thousands out of Egypt. You may say, “I’m not Moses”, and this is true, but God is using me to share this with you. Just think What God can do through you, if you will allow Him to sanctify you and separate you for a holy purpose

Remember: Separated and sanctified may mean you are set apart from the world, but it means you are closer to the maker of the world.

Until next time, please continue to pray for each other and me, as I continue to pray for each of you.

Love in CHRIST,

Brian Hanvey

Associate Pastor

Bethel Baptist Church