Daily Devotional
Are You Separated To Christ?
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.”
Romans 1:1
January 6, 2024
Ponder This
Paul was separated to the Gospel of God. Christians are to be separated. Christians are to be different. We are to stand out. Now the kind of separation Paul had already been practicing was the separation of a Pharisee. The very word Pharisee implies separation. Paul was separated. Some people say, “Well, I live a separated Christian life. I don’t smoke; I don’t chew; and I don’t go with the girls who do. I am separated.” Well, a fence post doesn’t smoke or chew or go with girls who do. So, you don’t have any more religion than a fence post if that’s what your separation is. And quitting those things will not make you more like the Lord Jesus Christ. You can walk the straight and narrow, and say, “I don’t do this. I don’t do this. I don’t do this,” and you’ll be a proud, bitter Pharisee. That’s what Paul was before he met the Lord Jesus Christ. He was already a Pharisee. He was already separated from, but he became separated to, and that is the difference.
The word separated here is the word in Greek from which we get our word horizon. Have you ever been up on a tall building and looked as far as you could see until the earth dips over? That is the horizon. And your horizon changes when your center changes. And when Jesus Christ is the center of your life, then your entire horizon has changed.
- What has changed since Jesus became the center of your life?
- What is the difference between being separated from the world and separated to Jesus?
Practice This
Share with someone the testimony about how Jesus changed your horizon and perspective on life.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
