Set Apart
By Kendra Osborn
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I (God) set you apart.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles...”
Galatians 1:15-16
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle (a messenger) and set apart for the gospel of God.”
Romans 1:1
Praise God we, YOU friends, have been chosen, set apart, and called to be a messenger for the Gospel of God before we were even formed in our mother’s womb!!
The more I meditate on being set apart unto Him the more I become filled with joy I am His daughter. God spoke to me recently about being “set apart” and He gave me a picture of how personal and how intimate this is for each one of us.
I saw a huge ball room filled to the max with women. The room was filled with laughter and chatter. I saw Jesus come in the room and He began to point at each woman one by one. He would look at each one with a love that was mesmerizing, she could not look away. He would point and say “You, I want you, I have chosen you and I have set you apart for my sake.” This was a process because not every woman accepted His invitation. Some were running to Him and with overwhelming “yes, I accept your proposal.” Some women would not even look at him, while others flat out said no.
Our Groom is extending His hand to us, asking us to marry Him and inviting us to a marriage banquet our minds cannot even fathom. How many times have we turned Him down or been so full of shame or guilt we won’t even make eye contact?
Friends, are you accepting His invitation? Are you saying yes to the proposal and allowing yourself to be set apart? So many of us are in the ball room with our heads down or we are saying no by turning our backs to Him or even worse, being lukewarm.
Pray with me: Lord God, let us understand and see what You have done for us by sending Your Son so we could have life and have it to the fullest. Let us repent for the times when we say no to Your hand which is extended, asking us to enter in. Forgive us for our desire to be in the world and not look any different than the world. Lord, forgive us for not being willing to die to our self, die to our flesh, and accept the call to be set apart for Your glory.
I pray Your daughters who are called by Your name will run to you shouting yes and we will desire You more than life and we will allow ourselves to be set apart for Your glory so that we can spread the gospel, offer freedom for the prisoners and healing for the sick and dying. Lord let us proclaim Your word and the power that it holds and to preach salvation by the Blood of Jesus Christ for the saving of many. Oh God, let Your bride allow You to set us apart and accept the invitation. For it is our honor and we are humbled that You would look down from on high and choose us.
We ask this in Your mighty name, the name above all names, and by the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen!