URC Weekly 9/18/2011: Set Apart



Hi Everyone!

I just logged off Facebook (which now has another Facebook on the upper right corner) chatting with an old friend of mine from college. We have not spoken to each other for more than five years, but we started talking again recently since I had invited him to my wedding.

He commented that I “seemed to be living a different life.” I told him that my life is certainly different now that I am sober and not partying. To my surprise, he replied, “Dude I’m jealous. I wish my life was like that.”

To tell you a little bit about this friend, he was a computer science major and business minor (which means he’s smart). He was also a high school football running back (which means he’s buff…and he’s actually more buff now). His starting salary was about $80,000 straight out of undergraduate (which means he’s rich). His job is based out of San Francisco and consists of traveling all over the country three days out of the week (which means he’s cultured). Microsoft recruits one person per year from USC – he was the guy my year (which adds the icing on the cake).

Yet he says that he is jealous of my pastor life. Seriously? He may be only trying to be courteous to an old buddy who changed his life drastically. But I think he really does have something to be jealous about.

Being sober and not partying show certain character, especially when everyone in the world seems to be living a “weekend warrior” lifestyle (that’s ‘Thirsty Thursday’ for you college students….I still know your lingo…shoot…hahaha). You may say that somebody who is sober nowadays is different from everyone else, or set apart.

Set apart. That is a distinct mark of a follower of Jesus Christ. While I do not condemn drinking alcohol moderately and going to clubs to dance, I think a completely sober life is to be desired, for it speaks volumes of the transforming faith in Jesus.

The notion of sobriety as a sign of being set apart is not new. In fact, this has been so for thousands of years. In Judges 13:7, an angel of God tells Samson’s mom, “You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.” Nazarites are people who are dedicated to God from birth, according to two verses above. These people are set apart for God as soon as they are born.

Set apart. This is so rare these days. I think this is why my $80,000-making, Microsoft-employed, buffer-than-ever friend should really be jealous. Being set apart is something that money cannot buy. Being set apart is something that a fancy corporate job cannot give. Being set apart is something that physical attractiveness cannot obtain. Being set apart is something that cultural coolness cannot accomplish. This is all because being set apart for God is eternally valuable. Yet being set apart is something that we can all become.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but receive eternal life (John 3:16).” The most famous verse of the Bible says that whoever believes will receive eternal life. The opportunity to gain eternity is for everyone, as long as you believe. The question then is, do you believe?

Belief is not a matter of mere confession of religious statements. Genuine belief cannot be separated from constant action, a lifestyle of being set apart. I pray that all of us live our lives continuously being set apart for the Holy LORD. May He bless us abundantly.

• COMMUNITY GROUP: Postponed till next time!
• VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE: 9/25 (Sun) @ Church, our last practice before the tournament
• MEN’S SMALL GROUP: Please set your meetings for the week of 9/25
• VBALL TOURNEY: 10/1 (Sat) @ 8am
• NICK VUJICIC: 10/1 (Sat) and 10/2 (Sun), see poster in our room
• JOINT WORSHIP: 10/2 (Sun) @ 1130am, BBQ afterwards
• SNACKS: TBA
• SCRIPTURE READING/OFFERING: James Hyonroh Lee
• DEVOTIONS: Titus 2 – Hebrews 3