Set Apart by God and for God

In Romans 1 we learn that Paul was sought out by Christ to be His apostle. Paul did not seek or take on this position of his own accord, but he was summoned by God. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was an unlikely and surprising choice - not only had he been a persecutor of the church, but we even find him keeping the clothes of those who stoned Stephen to death (Acts 7:54-60). That act indicated he was a consenting participant in Stephen's death.


Yet God chose to set apart Paul for preaching the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles. This young, well-educated, intelligent, tent-making rebel was literally marked, appointed, or separated from others to be devoted to God's purpose of sharing the treasure of Jesus Christ. Paul was to preach and defend the gospel, and after his life-changing, dazzling light appointment with God on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-19), he did so with faithfulness and integrity.

In Romans 1:9 Paul tells us that he serves God with his whole heart in preaching the gospel of His Son. He is not assuming this role half-heartedly or with his eyes on worldly aspirations, but Paul is committing the entirety of his being to this incomparable task. He has been entrusted with the mission of proclaiming Jesus to the Gentiles, and to the astonishment of his listeners in Damascus, he proclaimed Jesus vigorously, declaring Him to be the Son of God!

The all important subject of this gospel message is Jesus. Not only has He accomplished God's work on the cross, but every aspect of who He is - that is the essence of Paul's teaching and preaching.

Jesus, in the midst of this world's disgusting and rampant sin, walked in absolute and perfect holiness. Ponder that again - Jesus was 100% holy and 100% perfect. He conquered sin once and for all through His hideous crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension, and He delivered us from sin's penalty of death and hell.

Paul was especially honored and set apart to bear these glad tidings of God, and he spread the news of God's grace over and over and over again. Even though he was beaten and imprisoned, he did not sway from his duty.

According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, Paul's life ended thusly:

During Nero's time, " A fierce persecution now broke out against the Christians. Paul was seized, and once more conveyed to Rome a prisoner. During this imprisonment he probably wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy, the last he ever wrote. 'There can be little doubt that he appeared again at Nero's bar [court], and this time the charge did not break down. In all history there is not a more startling illustration of the irony of human life than this scene of Paul at the bar of Nero. On the judgment-seat, clad in the imperial purple, sat a man who, in a bad world, had attained the eminence of being the very worst and meanest being in it, a man stained with every crime, a man whose whole being was so steeped in every nameable and unnameable vice, that body and soul of him were, as someone said at the time, nothing but a compound of mud and blood; and in the prisoner's dock stood the best man the world possessed, his hair whitened with labours for the good of men and the glory of God. The trial ended: Paul was condemned, and delivered over to the executioner. He was led out of the city, with a crowd of the lowest rabble at his heels. The fatal spot was reached; he knelt beside the block; the headsman's axe gleamed in the sun and fell; and the head of the apostle of the world rolled down in the dust' (probably A.D. 66), four years before the fall of Jerusalem."1

When I was a child, decoder rings and spy toys were extremely popular.  My friends and I used to sneak about the house with our periscope tubes spying on the goings on about the house. We were intrigued by perceived secrets.  How blessed are we that our heavenly Father did not keep the finished work of Christ a secret!  Our precious LORD proclaimed the mystery loudly to Paul, to the apostles, and to each of us, and we must take our commission to spread this great news seriously. We must be the "Pauls of our times"!

Additional Scriptures to read and meditate upon:

Acts 9:3-19
Romans 1:1-32
1 Timothy 1:15
Romans 5:11-12
Romans 12:1-3
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Ephesians 2:3-5
Titus 3:4-6
Hebrews 4:15-16
1 Peter 1:2-4

Dear Precious Heavenly Father,
Your plan, purpose, and calling are beyond are mental capacity, but we trust you. When and if you call us to be set apart for your commission of sharing the treasure of the great news of Jesus, may we take that task as seriously as the apostle Paul did.  Prepare us to be vigorous and steadfast, and through your strength may we persevere until the end. Amen.

1. M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.

Not Reviewed or Approved by Humans

On Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 6:55 A.M., Hoosiers in central Indiana experienced an earthquake of a magnitude of 3.8. The quake at a depth of 3 miles lasted only 5 or 6 seconds. Several people reported their houses shook, their doors rattled, some pictures fell from their walls, and they heard a sound similar to thunder.


Although the quake's epicenter was in a cornfield 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis, the U.S. Geological Survey reported it was felt by people as far away as Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Once I knew no one was injured, what interested me was this. One radio announcer printed a colorful seismic report from the government's online geological department's site indicating all of the quake's activity. He was intrigued by this information, and was eager to share it with his listeners, until he saw a disclaimer at the bottom of the report, “This report has not been reviewed or approved by a human.”

The announcer cracked up laughing on the air. The computer generated official looking report was automatically published online without ever having been seen or approved by one single person. The computer generated document had been programmed to publish without any human’s okay.

Apparently, the powers that be did not see fit to verify that the computer's calculations were accurate. When I heard this, I wondered at the wisdom, or lack of wisdom of not having such an important document reviewed, verified, and approved prior to publishing it for the public's eyes and use.

While I think such Internet publishing is irresponsible and not helpful in the realm of earthquakes, floods, tornados, or other natural occurrences, I paused for a moment and thought about the Creator of these events.

God orchestrated the creation of the world, the heavens, and mankind. He has a plan and purpose for our lives and this earth, and He did not need (or ask) in the beginning or now for any of His work to be reviewed or approved by any human.

Then why do we humans think that we are or need to be in control?  Why do we behave as though the Lord needs our “okey dokey” in our daily lives?

Earthquakes between 2.5 and 5.4 on the Richter scale are listed as moderate. About 30,000 such quakes occur yearly within that range, yet John Steinmetz of the Indiana Geological Survey said there have only been two earthquakes of equal or greater magnitude in central Indiana in the past 175 years.

Consequently, this shaking on December 30, 2010 commanded Hoosiers' attention and notice. I had to wonder if the Orchestrator of the earthquake was given any attention or notice, and I think not..


I, along with most humans, tend to forget that we are not in control. We cannot control the weather, earthquakes, the sun, the planets, or the stars. God Almighty did not seek our counsel.

Read and meditate on these verses:

Job 9:4-11:

"His wisdom is profound, His power is vast.
Who has resisted Him and come out unscathed?
He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in His anger.
He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
He seals off the light of the stars.
He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea.
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
When He passes me, I cannot see Him;
when He goes by, I cannot perceive Him."

Job 12:13:

“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are His."

Isaiah 40:12-14:

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD,
or instruct the LORD as His counselor?
Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him,
and who taught Him the right way?
Who was it that taught Him knowledge,
or showed Him the path of understanding?"

Isaiah 40:21-26

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than He blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
'To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of His great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:28-31

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."


Join me in remembering that our LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He never slumbers, nor does He become weary. We, whose hope is in the LORD, will be renewed and never shaken. We can turn to our Almighty God, knowing that He knows best, and that we do not. We should not feebly attempt to take control and manipulate events. We must trust that the every-day outcomes of our lives do not need to be reviewed or approved by any human.

Father,
I pray today for one thing - to trust you completely. You are worthy and able! AMEN!!

Renovations

Summer 2010 was a tough one. My husband and I tackled numerous and diverse household projects, and I discovered I do not like muss and fuss, especially when renovations are not decorative and visible. I could not see the results of the labor quickly or easily, so I really hated seeing the expenses!!


I cannot enumerate how many times I feel similarly. Scripture tells me I was washed clean, and I am being transformed into the likeness of Christ, yet often I cannot "see" tangible results or even feel them.

Guess what? The most wonderful part of being Christ's is I do not have to feel or see anything. He bought me with the perfect price, and my debt was marked "paid in full." He sees my heart; He knows my progress, and He is doing the work!

Acts 20:28 tells us that the church of God was purchased with His own blood. Strong's expands on our meaning of "purchased" (bought): "to reserve, keep safe, to preserve for one's self". Our God purchased us with Christ's blood to keep us safe and to preserve us for Himself for all eternity. We are His private property. We were "bought away" from this wicked world, and that makes my heart sing!

Ephesians 2:19 tells us we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but we are fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household!

Although I may not "see" the results I would expect or want, and although I do not always "feel" transformed, I am my Lord's. Just so I would not doubt His unseen work, He sent me His Holy Spirit as my comforter and my assurance that I am His!

Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says that the testimony of the Spirit is not for the satisfaction of others, but for the saints (believers) themselves, if we ever have moments of doubt, temptations of the devil, or feelings of unworthiness. This witness of the Holy Spirit is to establish and confirm our salvation that has already occurred.

John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament says," this Spirit dwells in us, acts in us, and brings us in effect into this relationship which has been acquired for us by Christ, through that work which He accomplished for us, entering into it Himself (that is, as man risen). We know Him because He is with us and dwells in us The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."

Although this testimony is not audible, it is loud and clear to our hearts! We are enabled to love God and enjoy Him to the fullest on this earth. He then equips us to be slowly, but surely transformed, so the process is truly all about Him!

Dear Heavenly Father,


I am not fond of the fuss and muss of maintenance or renovations that are invisible to the naked eye. Similarly I have such a tough time feeling worthy of your grace, and I am not worthy of your love and salvation. I, however, am so thankful for your unmerited mercies and grace. I thank you for the amazing gift of your Holy Spirit, who gives me an internal assurance to my spirit that Christ's righteousness and blood payment secured my soul, once and for all, and completely. Thank you for this love and peace, especially on days when I wish my transformation into the likeness of Christ was more visible to me. Once again I trust you, and I believe all of your promises. I praise your precious and holy name. Amen!