Set Apart

The purpose of the Nazirite vow was for one to express their own desire to get closer to God and come away from the comforts and pleasures of this world. There were several noteworthy Nazirites in the bible: Samson (Judges 13:5), John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), and Paul (Acts 18:18). During the time that the Nazirites consecrated themselves to God, they were to stay away from dead bodies (even deceased loved ones), not drink wine or strong drink, and refrain from cutting their hair (which was the vow that Samson broke). God’s children understand that they can not do everything they see their friends do because they don’t want bring shame to his house and his name.

Nazirite is translated from the Hebrew word Nazine meaning, set apart.

We may not all be Nazirites, but we are all called to be separated from this evil world. This world that is drunken from an overindulgence of pleasures couldn't care less about the people of God, so why should we care about the pressures that comes with trying to keep status quo. Believers may not understand why they cannot have their cake and eat it too. We want to be happy and live full lives, just like the rest of society. We do not want personal convictions, godly standards, consequences or rules. Everyone gets a participation ribbon when this life is over in their eyes. It is harder for the younger generation of believers to grasp the concept of holiness and sanctification because they have been misled to believe it is a game.

The sins we see our peers commit, may put us and those we love at a greater risk. Samson’s guilty pleasure was a pretty woman with a strange God. His vow went straight out the door when Delilah walked in. Because he found more value in her, he abandoned his vow and broke the consecration, revealing key secrets to hidden enemies along the way. Our problem is we want to look, behave, dress and use the same language as those who are of this world.

Marry the cross, divorce the world and its wicked culture. This requires a desire to want change. We have to change the way we think. We must go from saying "what can I do and still be saved" to "what must I do to be saved." We want to smoke weed and get high on the presence of God at the same time. We want to get drunk in the Holy Ghost with the saints but let wine and hard liquor get us drunk when we are with the world. This way of living has to stop. As saints of God, let us turn our backs on the ways of this world and consecrate ourselves before satan tries to deceive us once again.

-The Readers Choice