SUNDAY August 11, 2024
Separated Ones
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:1-2
Did you notice how Paul addressed the believers in Philippi? He called them “saints” in Christ. Saints are not statues that you pray to. Neither does a person become a saint when they die. We who have accepted Jesus Christ are all saints! Biblically, you can call me Saint Raul!
The word saints in the Greek language simply means “holy ones” or “set apart.” In other words, we are those who are “set apart” or called “separate ones” because we are separated to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Now that we are saved, our lives are to be lived differently from people who are living a worldly life, because we now belong to God.
Christians are God’s peculiar property; our body and soul are at His disposal. We take orders from Him. As we live in obedience to His Word, He has an incredible plan for each of our lives. Think about the costly price of our salvation and the mercy of God in our redemption:
...you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
We are called out of the darkness, and our position is now in Christ––we walk in the newness of life in His light. We are solely His.
For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves....
~Colossians 1:13 NIV~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
