Set Apart

 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.  John 17:23

Jesus wants us to be like Him in complete unity with the Father. Isn’t that our prayer as believers, to be in unity with the Father, to hear His voice and move at His command. I am reminded of the words of a song, “I have one deep supreme desire, that I may be like Jesus.” Like Jesus in His devotion, obedience and unity with Father, God. But how deep does that desire go in my life?

Today as I was meditating, I was reminded that to be like Jesus, to know the Father intimately is to be sanctified (set apart), which takes an enormous amount of focus, discipline, and surrender. I cannot set myself “set apart”, but He sets me apart when I accept His forgiveness and surrender my life to His will. I am set apart to follow His example to be in unity with the Father.

What does it look like to be in unity with the Father and Son and set apart for His work and glory?  It means giving up some innocent pleasures if they deprive me of time and energy to do His bidding.  It means staying in the Word of truth and allowing it to direct my steps. It means treating others the way Jesus would treat them. It means to be “set apart.”  When something is set apart, it stands out because it is different, unusual, uncommon, sometime a bit shocking and even thought provoking, all in a good way.  Would those words ever describe you or me?  Do I stand out in a positive, even convicting way while others around me follow the people-pleasing, follow -the- leader world, or the Sunday go to meetin’ crowd? How much am I willing to be sanctified -set apart- for God? The choice is mine, but the power comes from my obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, thank You for truth which is not always easy to hear or follow. If this is a truth that I need to heed, don’t let me forget or move on until I understand exactly what You are putting Your finger on in my life.  Help me not to worry about what others think or do, but to be willing to be “set apart” for You! Thank You, Father, for loving me enough to use the Holy Spirit to call me deeper in my unity with You!