Set Apart to Start Again
Scripture: Ezra 9:1-15 (NIV)
1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
3 When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down appalled. Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God
6 and prayed:
"I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens.
7 From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today.
8 "But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place[a] in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage.
9 Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.
Devotion:
Growing up, I always got in trouble at school for talking too much. At my parent-teacher conferences, the instructors would tell my parents that, although I was incredibly smart, I was often a "distraction to my classmates."
Who could blame me? Who doesn't love a good kee-kee with friends on an otherwise dull day? Still, as fun as it was to make friends and be well-liked, over time I realized that my gift of gab had morphed into a pervasive need for approval.
Soon, casual conversations became opportunities to strategize about how to win influence over others. I found myself on a never-ending quest for validation, acceptance, and belonging, especially in the "in-crowds" of society. So much so, I neglected my principles for popularity and lost all sense of who I was.
Now, at the big age of 33, I finally feel like God is starting to put the pieces of my shattered identity back together, and this process has required God to separate me from the harmful people, places, and ideologies I once knew. Through silence and solitude, I've had the chance to learn so much about what it truly means to love God and others as I love myself. I've had the opportunity to grow in authenticity by building and trusting my intimate relationship with Christ, unencumbered by concerns for approval or acceptance. In other words, lately, I've just been chillin' – keeping my mouth shut for once, and staying out of trouble by avoiding distractions and becoming a distraction for others.
Many people may not understand how an ordinarily extroverted person can become such a social hermit (because believe me, I used to be poppin' in these streets). But these days I'm learning that striving for holiness means growing up, whether you're 100% ready or not. There comes a time in everyone's life when we feel called by God to get our lives in order and get down to business. For me, that time is now. I'm not getting any younger, Jesus is coming back, and the streets aren't even as fun as they used to be. Therefore, I'd like to live a new life transformed in the likeness of Christ. I want to be ready. Which, at times, unfortunately, means setting aside the old and being set apart. To God be the glory.
Reflect:
What past mistakes are you still ashamed of? Bring these to God in prayer this week,
Are you in a season where you feel isolated? How can you maximize this time by drawing closer to the Lord?
Act:
Pick up a 365-day Bible and commit to reading one passage per day. Feel free also to grab a cute journal to document your notes in real-time. This practice can be a great way to start developing a more intimate relationship with God.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace and the gift of salvation through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Please forgive us of our sins and send your Holy Spirit to guide us to holiness with authenticity and confidence in your Word and ways. Please help us let go of old habits and unhealthy attachments. Teach us to value your approval above all else, and shape us into the people you've called us to be.
Comfort us in seasons of separation, bring us closer to you. Remind us that you set us apart for a reason, for the furtherance of your will and kingdom.
In Jesus' precious name, we pray.
Amen.
