Sat.’s Devo - Set Apart

Read: Numbers 6:1-7:89; Mark 12:38-13:13; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 10:27-28 God gave instructions on how to take a voluntary Nazarite vow. “Nazarite” means “separated” so it was a vow to separate oneself unto the Lord. They were to restrict themselves by not eating or drinking anything that came from the vine, not cutting their hair nor defiling themselves by going near a dead body. It had to do with what went into the body, what was covering the body and what was around the body. It was all to remind them that God was the essence of their existence. He was what sustained them, protected them and surrounded them. The person who entered into the vow chose how long they would separate themselves. John the Baptist lived under a Nazarite vow. He kept it till his death. Jesus was from Nazarus and yet he touched dead people and brought them back to life. He drank wine with sinners, and at his last supper with his disciples. I don’t know about his hair, I don’t remember reading anything about it. God gave the priests a special blessing to give the people and when they did it in His name, he would bless them also. On the very day that Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. The tribal leaders of every tribe brought the same gift to the Tabernacle. They put them on six wagons - two tribes per wagon along with 12 oxen - one for each tribe. Then for the next 12 days, they offered their offerings one a day. Everyone’s gifts were exactly the same and there was no competition or favoritism. After the Tabernacle was anointed and dedicated to the Lord whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak to the Lord, he would hear God’s voice speaking to him between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover. In Mark, Jesus exposed the religious leaders for their fraud. They were rich but their money came at the expense of the widows that they were supposed to be taking care of with the offerings. Instead, they taught that their wealth was a picture of their piety and favor with God. Jesus said they would be more severely punished for their sin. Jesus then called the attention to the widow who put in her last two mites. She was more righteous in her small amount of giving than they were in their great amount of giving. Her proportion was greatly more than theirs and her heart was right and theirs were wicked. Man looks on the exterior but God looks on the heart. Jesus and his disciples left the Temple one day and the disciples pointed out the great buildings and the massive stones in the walls. Jesus looked into the future and saw all of the stones and the buildings torn down. He told them what he saw. They asked him when this would happen, and what would be the sign that this will be fulfilled. Jesus answered both of their questions. First they would see people claiming to be the Messiah, then nations would go to war against other nations. There would be earthquakes and famines. These signs would only be the first of the birth pains. More would come. Jesus’ followers would be brought before the councils, beaten in the synagogues and stand trial before kings and governors. This would be their opportunity to witness about Jesus. God would tell them what to say because the Holy Spirit would be talking through them. People in their own household would turn them in and they would be hated because they followed Jesus. Those who endured to the end will be saved. May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. Thank you Lord, for your protection, your smile, your goodness, your favor and your peace.