SET APART

"Seeing the need to come out and be separate..."

The call to be set apart or holy; to come out from among them, is a perfect example of the practicality of the commands of God. It is one of the most offensive of directions, in that it implies that my present occupation and choices are corrupt! That initial reality causes many Christians to grimace and soften the directive, until we can be a bit more comfortable with our degree of obedience. Yet, as Charles Stanley says, “Partial obedience is...disobedience!”

Only when, through submission, I admit that my environment is corrupt, even as I am corrupt, can I see the need to come out and be separate. The beautiful reward of this commandment is the near immediate results! When we simply, fully, and immediately obey, the fruit of the Spirit is manifested!

When we loosen our grip and let the temporary, shiny things of the world slip from our hands, almost immediately we can see their futility and danger. The redeemed man is consistently yearning for fellowship with his Redeemer. Yet, that yearning is continually being quenched by the luscious amenities of the temporary. Amenities the deceiver lavishes even more abundantly on the greater threats to his agenda.

Holiness is being set apart from this world! As offensive, or ridiculous as that may sound, there is no more clear or accurate description. As with many of the paradoxes of this walk of faith, the fruit cannot be tasted with the corrupted senses of our flesh! But, oh the sweetness of that divine Fruit! Holy! Pure! Christ-like and eternal. You will know them by their fruit!

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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us

~Hebrews 12:1 KJV

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

~Luke 9:24 KJV

Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you,

~2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

~1 Peter 1:16 KJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

~Galatians 5:22-23 KJV