The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

SET APART

In the fourth plague, God explicitly singled out the land of Goshen, the dwelling place of the Israelites, for protection from his judgment, making his people the recipients of his gracious mercy. God demonstrated his power through his ability to withhold a judgment, such as a swarm of flies, from a certain location while flies wreaked havoc on the rest of the surrounding region. No one could deny that the people of God were uniquely set apart to him.

In a similar fashion, God’s people are uniquely set apart from God’s judgment and for his use. Authors of the New Testament, such as Paul, used an astounding word to speak of Christians — they called believers “holy” (1Co 1:2; Eph 1:1). This word denotes a special type of person, not by virtue of their perfect conformity to God’s law but because of the imputed righteousness provided through Christ’s death. God’s people are chosen by God to be holy, uniquely set apart for God’s purposes and protected from his judgment (Col 3:12). In the coming age, those who trust in Jesus will be protected from the ultimate judgment of God, while many others will face eternal destruction.

Jesus, thank you for choosing me. Thank you for setting me apart from this world and for saving me from destruction. Help me to live in a way that honors the holiness that you have given me. Amen.