ICS Daily Devotions
Set Apart from the World – A Consecrated Life
Daniel from the Old Testament was a man who served 3 kings from the age of 15 till he was 83. Not only did he survive, but he did exceedingly well in the King’s palace. He was a successful godly man who truly experienced God’s faithfulness in his life.
Daniel had a prayer life and he chose to live a consecrated life. He was taught from an early age to live his life for God and never to compromise his godly values or to bow down to other gods Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other gods before Me.
We are set apart from the world. There are huge differences between what the world practises and God’s values. For example, the world advocates individualism and no fault divorce but we advocate covenantal marriage till death do us part. The world hates us when we live by Biblical values and principles. It is like a light shining into their lives revealing all the ugliness, immoralities and evil. Jesus warned us that we will be persecuted for righteousness and for believing in His name. This is the only suffering that Christians will face without possibly being delivered because Jesus has warned us about it.
John 15:19-20 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
It is very important to have a prayer life in order to lead a consecrated life to God. When we consecrate our lives to God, the desire to walk in His will and holiness (set apart for God) will emerge. It is a lifelong process. We seek the face of God, rather than the hand of God. This means we ask God with humility how we should live for Him. This kind of prayer life is open to correction, rebuke and training in righteousness.
Living out a consecrated life is challenging for our flesh because our flesh needs to be brought into submission to the spirit. We have to deal with our pride, lack of faith, fear of losing control, uncertainty in God’s goodness etc. But this is not impossible, for we have the Spirit of God living in us. We have to submit to God’s plan and not our own. Jesus lived a consecrated life. Every step of His ministry, He submitted to the Father’s will. We too, should live consecrated lives for we are set apart from this world.
Sermon Series: The Daniels of Today
