What does separation look like?

Separation looks like following and obeying God. 

At Disneyland we saw this ride that swallows riders like Jonah got swallowed! I think it was a Pinocchio ride, but it reminds me of Jonah and his run from God. 

Jonah didn’t have to agree with God’s plan or like it, but he did need to obey God and be separated to God and God’s purposes for him. 

Numbers 6:1-2 days, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:”

Most Nazarite vows were short-term, not lifelong like it was for Samson. While that separation was for a short time and for only a few people, all Christians are to be separated to God. 

It’s easy to try to simplify separation into whether a Christian fits very-specific man-made standards not mentioned in Scripture, but that’s more Pharisaical than Biblical. Of course we should have standards, even ones we decide for ourselves and our families. But we should never think our chosen standards define separation or that a Christian who doesn’t follow our made-up standards isn’t living a separated life. 

It’s also easy to think that separation means being overly pious or reverent in a made-up way. But a Christian serving God in whatever ways God has planned for us should be excited, eager for another day, full of inward joy that spills over into our personality.

Today’s Bible reading is Numbers 6.