Set Apart

 

Deuteronomy 14:2 

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.



Treasured possession...….. 

There have been too many times in my life where I  never saw myself as a treasured possession; someone of worth. I could be standing in a room full of people, huge smile on my face, laughter echoing with a boisterous sound of a sonic boom and yet I felt so alone. Out of place. Misplaced. I never really understood how a social butterfly such as myself could feel so detached from the world around me. But disjointed I was. 

I was able to force myself into fitting in; merging with the crowd. And going with the flow. It was never just one crowd. I was a chameleon of sorts.  Changing my colors to blend with my surroundings. Always looking the part in words and action, but never understanding why I could never change the bellowing emotions on the inside forcibly stating two words...…. 

Set. Apart.

 How does one set themselves apart from the world? A world whose narrative is based on flesh and sin; a world where all atrocious behavior is painted as good for the name sake of love and yet real love, the love of Jesus, holy and pure, is stepped on and mocked.  Why? Because it is a love which does not distort its truth in order to justify the vile lies engulfing God's chosen; his treasured possessions.

Romans 12:2 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good will, pleasing and perfect will.

 I had allowed the worlds imparting words describe the person I was to be. Rejected, broken, unlovable, never amount to anything kind of girl.  In reality, I was never that girl. I never could see who I truly was created to be. It has taken me many years, decades of time to realize who I am.  I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But the one who calls me his, well he is perfect. And He says  I am chosen, blessed, favored, called with a purpose, loved beyond measure and created in my Father's image. 

Genesis 1:27 

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 

I. Am. Set. Apart. 

One definition of set apart states " to put a value upon something."  The world would have us placed on a sales rack; marked down with an extra 50% off. . We are not a marked down sales item. We are made in the image of Christ.  Our value in Him cannot be measured. It is beyond what the human mind can comprehend. We have been chosen and set apart at the highest value; placed in a glass case lined in royal velvet and encased in gold.

1 Peter 2:9  

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

God's special possession!

Say it out loud. 

Say it again. 

And again. 

We are God's special possessions!

No where does that verse say we are a sales item; a marked down commodity unworthy of any value.

Man in all attempts will say our value is found in the things of this world. However, Jesus tells us we are not of this world. Our validation comes straight from him and him alone.  

I am chosen.

You are chosen.

We are chosen.

We are...….

Set. Apart.