One of the definitions for “set apart” is to separate something to keep it for a special purpose. To be “set apart” means there is a distinction of some kind being noted.
Sometimes when we have jellybeans, my wife will “set apart” some of the licorice ones to make sure I have plenty to enjoy. Knowing how much I like them, she blesses me with them. We had a longtime member of our congregation (a dear sister who has passed on) who loved gardening and she “set apart” a section of her flower garden which she referred to as God’s garden. Those flowers were brought to the building to decorate and were given to others to cheer them and thus used as a blessing. I have known woodworkers who had a piece of wood “set apart” from the rest because they had a special project planned for that piece. As we consider individual lives, there are also people who are noted as being “set apart” in the sense they excel in an ability or skill that sets them apart from others in their particular field such as athletics, business, music, or some other life sphere.
Is there a distinctive sense of being “set apart” associated with our life? Being a follower of Jesus there ought to be.
As Jesus prayed for His disciples prior to his arrest and crucifixion, part of His prayer for them was. . .
“(17)Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (18) As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (19) And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-19 ESV)
The idea of being sanctified is to be made holy in the sense of being “set apart” for God. It is to be removed from the common to being “set apart” for God’s holy use. Here Jesus prayed for them to be “set apart” in the truth. The distinction for the disciples in holding unwaveringly to the truth would be a sign that though they were in the world, they were not of it and with that distinction noted, they would be hated by the world. (note John 17:14-16)
Even for us today, there are those who will hate us simply because we remain “set apart” by the truth. That is what God’s Word is! Because we live in a world where many are following their own desires and the ideologies of the world (note Ephesians 4:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:3-4) and even refuse to love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10), living by the truth will set us apart from them. Though at times we will find ourselves being despised by the world, let us remember God has a Divine purpose in mind for us as we abide in the truth! May we therefore remain true to truth!
Have a great day BLESSED BY GOD’S DIVINE DISTINCTION!
Carl
