Set apart is a term used to describe how something or someone is to be separated from one thing to another. Usually, you separate someone from another because there is a special job only they can do. They are capable of accomplishing tasks that others in the group cannot. God does this in the Christian family. He sets pastors apart from the congregation to lead them by preaching, teaching, admonishing, and exhorting them.
In Acts 13:1-3 we see Paul and Barnabas set apart for the work of the ministry. The church at Antioch’s spiritual leaders were fasting and praying and told them to set apart Paul and Barnabas. They laid hands on them and sent Paul and Barnabas off to preach and teach others about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Act 13:1-3 “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”
In obedience to the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and there caught a ship to the island of Cyprus, where they preached in the cities of Salamis and Paphos. We see in verse 5 that John Mark had gone with them to help meet the needs of Paul and Barnabas. This is a great example of how Christians should disciple those who are younger in the faith. While he was not yet preaching or teaching, he was helping to take care of where they would stay and supplying other needs for the ministry. He was their attendant. All the while, he was watching and learning.
While Paul and Barnabas had been set apart to preach the gospel to all, when entering a city, Paul would always go and preach at the Jewish synagogues first. Paul was a Jew by birth. He knew their beliefs, their rituals, and their disbelief of the “new way.” He knew in most places, he would face opposition from the Jews, but he knew that without their acceptance of the gospel, they would spend eternity in Hell.
Act 13:4-5 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
We have also been set apart, not to be pastors or evangelists, but to spread the gospel wherever we go. We have a duty and a responsibility to spread the gospel. That is the main reason God leaves us here after we are saved. Duty refers to a specific obligation. It is a task that is required to fulfill a rule, law, or agreement. When we become a Christian, we agree to let Him be our Master. We, as His servants, must obey. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we have an obligation to win others to Him. Because of our gratitude and love for Him, we must have compassion for lost souls. When Jesus left earth to sit at His Father’s side in Heaven, He gave the command to go, tell, and disciple others. It is our duty to plant the seed of the gospel. You may not win anyone personally to Jesus, but it takes the seed being planted to win a soul. Our responsibility encompasses a broader concept that holds us accountable for our actions and decisions. We have choices, and those choices lead to outcomes. To fulfill our duty and responsibility, leading to the right outcomes, we must pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We, too, have been set apart. We are to take on the duty and responsibility of winning the lost. We are God’s hands and feet to carry on the mission that Jesus started. Paul was a great example of full surrender to Christ. While He has not called me to climb on a boat and sail to different regions to spread the word, He has given me that same task wherever I live. He has equipped me and you with His word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If we pray and ask Him to direct our thoughts and open our eyes to see everyone as a soul Jesus died for, as a person He loves just as much as He loves us, He will lead us on what to say and how to say it.
While we are in the world, we are not part of this world. We have a new home waiting for us in Heaven. We are set apart for Kingdom work, and everything in our lives needs to be done with that in mind. Are you living a life that is set apart for Him and His glory?
Think about it. What more can you do to get beyond your own personal desires to reach out to a stranger or friends and family and make a difference in eternity?
