Set Apart, by Kasey Murphy

When I think about God, I think a lot of things: Comforter, Creator, Rock, Author of the Universe. I could go on and on, and probably name some really awesome things, but for the purposes of this discussion I’d like to use an adjective that God uses in describing us.  The phrase is Set Apart.  An interesting thought is that God is not only the opposite of evil, but that he is totally and completely unable to commit it.  In fact, Scripture says that he is actually unable to tolerate it.  I think this is easily the most amazing thing I have discovered about God in the last 6 months.  Not only is this God we serve good, but he is completely separate from evil.  He does not tolerate it, and he doesn’t want us to either.

I know what you’re thinking: I committed a sin yesterday; I lied to my wife about how much I spent on that truck part. Or, I can’t be perfect; only Jesus was perfect. And you’re right. We can’t be perfect, and yes, we have all sinned.

Romans 5:18 says “For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners (talking about Adam), also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous (talking about Jesus).”  This means that we are made righteous by Jesus’ dying on the cross.  Jesus has taken our crime and pardoned us by dying in our place.  When we accept Christ, he takes the evil and the sin out of us and replaces it with The Holy Spirit.

What does this mean for you in your daily life?  It means that when you truly accept Jesus, and I mean give him all of you, allow him to lead you, and lay down your life for him, you then become unable to tolerate Sin.  You inherit the attributes of God.  God gives you his consciousness and his morals; he helps you to live a better life.

Are you going to fall short, have tough times and feel discouraged? Yes. The bible doesn’t teach that it will be easy. In fact, Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:33 “in this world you will have many troubles…”  But Jesus followed that statement up with an even more important truth, “...but fear not, for I have overcome the world.”

Now I’m not saying that you will never sin again once you’ve come to God. I know I have.  But praise God we don’t get only one chance to get this Christian living thing right.  What I’m saying is that when you give yourself over to God you will be changed. You will shed the old you from the inside out and become a new creation, and the more you fill your new self with the things of God, the less room the enemy will have to fill you with sin.

Remember the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, so be the Church!