The presence of impurities reduces the electrical conductivity of metals. This is why the copper wiring used in light bulbs needs to be pure so that when an electric current passes through, bright light is emitted! In the same way, we need to set ourselves apart so that the full power of God can work through our lives. Here’s how: Pursue holiness. Sin separates us from God and derails our calling and ministry. Romans 6:12 says we should not let sin control the way we live. So take the active step to reject sin and commit to living a life of holiness each day! This means repenting when you sin but also purposefully choosing to honor God in our thoughts, speech, and actions. Make kingdom choices. There are many choices we make that may not be sinful but don’t set us apart for the kingdom of God. How we spend our time, the relationships that we cultivate, the lifestyle that we lead – in each of these things, we can make choices that lead us more towards God or more towards the world. Make choices today that will make you more like Christ, and that will build the kingdom in your life.
Reflect:
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors that are not right in your life. Choose to renounce them and commit them to God.
2. Setting ourselves apart is an intentional decision. What is one way that you can cultivate an active obedience to honor God in your life?
Prayer:
Dear God, I confess that I am weak in my own strength. Without You, I have no power over sin. Help me to break away from habitual sin and strengthen me in my weaknesses. I ask for Your grace and strength as I commit to set my life apart for You and to live in holiness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Joshua 3
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.