What does it mean to be set apart?

In Numbers 8, God prepares the Levites for their service by cleansing them and setting them apart for His service.

The Hebrew word for “holy,” kodesh, comes from the root word “Kadash.” In simpler terms, it means to be set apart for a specific purpose.

God called, and we obeyed. We decided to follow Jesus based on God’s calling, not the other way around. We did not force God to contact us. Instead, he called us out of his great mercy, kindness, and grace. And we responded and accepted the gift of new and eternal life he offered us through his obedient Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

When the Bible calls something holy, it is not speaking of purity or righteousness. Instead, it is something “set apart” from everything else to do a job. By this definition, our homes contain a few holy objects. If you own a coffee pot that is only used for coffee, then by definition, you have a “holy coffee pot.” Your toothbrush is only used for your teeth and (hopefully) not for anyone else’s mouth, especially not for cleaning any other item. So, by definition, you have a “holy toothbrush.” Nothing is divine about these household items, but they are set apart for a unique purpose.

It’s an extraordinary thing to be set apart, but it means we will be different! To be set apart for God means to belong to God. This speaks of a relationship and really an identity. To be set apart means God chose us specifically for His Glory. The church has been set apart to be holy as God is holy, and He called them out of darkness into His marvellous world that God, through Jesus Christ, light.

You are living set apart in God’s will for your life. Conforming to the world goes against the core of who you were created to be and the purpose you were given in Christ. This means that if you are not living set apart, you are not fulfilling your God-given identity and purpose; therefore, you will not experience the Lord's joy, peace, and satisfaction during those times.

To be set apart means to be different, live differently, and speak differently than those who have yet to believe. Christians are in the world but not of it. The world’s moral compass is changing; evil is good, and good is bad. Because too many Christians are a part of this shift, the world has a blurred picture of God, a distorted concept of who Jesus is. Jesus prayed we’d be kept from the evil one and sanctified by the truth of the Word as we complete our mission from God.

The purpose of God in the believer’s life while on earth is transformation. He wants us to reflect His character to a watching world. We are to be “Exhibit A” of the work of Christ in our lives and bring Him glory in the process.

Application Questions:

1. You were not created to fit in. You were designed to stand out. How are you standing out in your daily life at home, school/college, or place of work?

2. What’s one way you know God is asking you to be different?

3. Being different isn’t just subtraction—it’s also addition. What good, godly things can you add to your week?

Quote:

“The more holy someone or something is, the more separate he or it is from things that are common or normal. The opposite of holiness is not sinfulness. It is commonness – or, to use the old word, profaneness. When God says He is holy, He means that He is different from us. He means that He constantly and actively separates Himself from all sin, wickedness, evil, and moral corruption – that is, all that is common to this world.” -William Farley.

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that you will help me keep my light shining brightly in this world, knowing I have been set apart for you. Amen.