March 6
Num 6:1-7:89 | PS 49:1-20 | Prov 10:27-28 | Mark 12:38-13:13
We read in Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This is our Christian, New Testament parallel to the Nazarite vow of the Old Testament. In Scripture there are 3 men who were given the Nazarite vow from birth: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. In fact, many mistakenly believe that Samson’s strength was due to his hair. This is not true. The secret to his strength was his commitment to the Lord, the cutting of his hair was simply an outward expression of his disobedience. We sing it in songs, we state it to other Christians, but if we want to live strong for the Lord May we consecrate, devote ourselves wholly to the Lord.
The Nazarite vow which is described in Numbers 6:1-21, describes a vow, which was voluntary, could be taken by a man or woman, was generally for a specified period of time (as described with Paul and four others in Acts 21:23-26), in which one would consecrate themselves fully to the Lord. During this time they could not drink wine, cut their hair, or go near dead bodies. At its conclusion, there would be a sacrifice of purification. One thing to take note of was how this commitment was above all others, even family and work. We read in Numbers 6:6-8, “All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the Lord.” You might think to yourself that this seems too much. But hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:37, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
Choosing God above all others may seem difficult, but consider the contrast between Jesus’ warning in Mark 13:12-13, “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”, and Hebrews 13:5, “… For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” May we be people who say what we mean and mean what we say. Many speak things but don’t fully believe it. We speak of spiritual attack yet are shocked when spiritually attacked. We speak of knowing we will be persecuted yet get disillusioned when it happens. We speak of devoting ourselves wholly to God yet find every excuse from our “to do” list why we can’t do so at this time. If you want to see personal revival may we present ourselves completely to the Lord, as vessels, for His service.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: