Set Apart

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—" Romans 1:1 (NIV)

When you think about the early church, what was it that made them so effective in reaching their world? They had no seminary degree, no special evangelism training. In fact most of them were just ordinary men. Peter preached and 3,000 were saved. Today we rejoice if one person makes a decision for Christ. Just as Paul was set apart for the gospel of God, so were the other disciples of that time. What does it mean to be set apart? It means that you have turned your back on the world and the things of the world. You are dedicated to God's purpose for your life. It means that you have crucified your flesh and that Jesus now lives his life through you. You no longer rely on your own strengths but on the power of the Holy Spirit.

How can one person make a difference in today's world? By being set apart for God's purpose--by being different from the world. That means trusting God in difficult circumstances, having peace when others are panicked, demonstrating love to those who curse you, experiencing joy in the midst of pain, refusing to compromise on what you know to be true, showing Christ's love to a hurting friend, giving your best in every situation. In other words, let Jesus live His life through you. There's nothing attractive about someone who is living their life for their own selfish gain, most of the world is doing that. But to let Jesus shine through you brings light into a dark world. He is the power source!