Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
When I bake a wedding cake and make roses to decorate it, I set the prettiest roses to the side for the top tier or front of the cake. That is what I want people to focus on, not the rose whose petal folded inward as it was drying. Those roses are set apart for a special purpose.
In the same way, we, as God’s children, have been set apart for a purpose. From the beginning, God has called people out from where they were for a special purpose. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10 ESV).
We have examples of people God set apart from the world:
Noah was called out from the evil world to build the ark to save his family from the flood.
Abraham was called from his pagan homeland to a land God would provide with the promise that a great nation would come from him, including the Messiah.
Moses, after fleeing Egypt, was called from herding sheep to return to Egypt, go to Pharaoh, and say, “Let my people go.” These were descendants of Abraham.
David, another descendant of Abraham, was called from being a shepherd whose heart was turned toward God to become a mighty king.
John the Baptist was born to aged parents and called to prepare the way for the Messiah.
In Deuteronomy 14:2 we read about the Israelites, “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
In each of these examples, there was a purpose— a reason they were set apart— to be His chosen people.
There are dozens of other examples in scripture, and what we need to realize is that God takes us where we are and gives us time to grow into what He has planned for us.
What does it mean for our lives to live as one set apart?
We stand out just as a rose stands out from the thorns. We will look different from the world around us as we make decisions that glorify God.
Jesus told His followers, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
The world is evil, but light shines brightest in the dark. We live in the world, but we are to be different.
Jesus prayed,
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (John 17:17,18)
We are set apart by our actions and by our speech. Those are the two things most noticeable to other people. There are two scriptures I think of that encourage our lives to be set apart.
Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Just as the roses I set apart draw attention to the cake, so our lives should draw attention to Jesus and bring glory to God.
The words of Peter remind us of our purpose and importance to our Heavenly Father.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Are you living your life as one set aside for the purpose of drawing attention to our Lord?