Christian Blog - being set apart for God in South Africa

Romans 1:¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God

When we come to Christ we are automatically set apart. The word of God teaches us that whilst we are in the world we are not part of the world. We know that we battle the flesh and we continuously strive to bring the flesh under submission.

Romans 7:¹⁴We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

But nevertheless I am set apart, just like Paul. This is in the spiritual sense in that we are being transformed into his image but also in the practical sense in that we are to become like him, imitators of the Lord.

My prayer is that I may remember I am set apart and to cling to that which the Lord has promised.

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In reading the last 10 chapters of the book of Acts, it is inspiring to read how Paul continued to serve God in spite of the many hardships he had to go through. Paul is imprisoned, he is beaten, he is shipwrecked, is bitten by a snake and is held up on trial multiple times for his belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

Why is it we think that if we have Christ we will somehow miraculously avoid the problems in life? Indeed the closer we get to a complete sold out life for Christ, it appears as if more problems and persecution will arise. Persecution for Christ’s sake one can understand and Jesus said that the world will hate us for his sake. But problems such as shipwrecking etc. – were these really necessary?

The truth is that life happens. As I read through the last part of Paul’s life, he shares with his fellow disciples that he knows he will be taken to Jerusalem to suffer many things for Christ’s sake. And it is as though the Spirit drives him there for all this to unfold. But Paul embraces it as he knows this is from God. He is then mobbed and beaten to within an inch of his life and is saved by the commander of the Roman army.

Was this necessary? Surely God could have ensured that he did not go through that beating? Then he gets taken from judge to judge and is flogged and yet each one in turn can find no reason for the charges against him. Then when he finally asks to defend himself before Caesar, he goes on a boat trip and they endure huge storms, so bad that they have to throw cargo off the boat. After three days of this horrendous experience Paul is encouraged by an angel and told they will not die. So there is his word from the Lord. but then it is another 11 days or more before the boat is finally shipwrecked. Why did Paul endure all this?

I can just take encouragement that in times of hardship, God will see me through. And when the promise comes, I need to remember that God always comes through on his promises.

Hallelujah.

Tags: enouragement, hardships, problems, promises of God, resurrection, suffering

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