“…every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.” Lev. 27:28
Devotion. What does it mean?
Devotion: Appropriated by vow; solemnly set apart or dedicated; consecrated; addicted; given up; doomed; consigned. – Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Devoted thing: The primary meaning of the Heb. word חרם chērem is something cut off, or shut up. Its specific meaning in the Law is, that which is cut off from common use and given up in some sense to Yahweh, without the right of recall or commutation. – Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: church, consecration, count the cost, disciple, holiness, martyr
If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, “Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat”? No, you wouldn’t say that. You would say, “Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink.” Servants don’t deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed to do. And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should, then say, “We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.” (Luke 17:7-10)
I think it very interesting that the apostles, though they spoke of our place as sons, empathically referred to themselves as servants…acknowledging Jesus as their Lord. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: bondservant, consecration, Lord, Master, servant
I have been thinking about the Nazarite vow lately. The Nazarites were people who devoted themselves, and set apart their time to serve the Lord in a stricter and purer manner than others. The way I understand it, this really wasn’t a command from God that they do this, but it was more of a decision to commit themselves wholly and holy to the Lord.
Matthew Henry defined the Nazarites in this way:
Devoted to the Lord during the time of their Nazariteship, and, it is probable, spent much of their time in the study of the law, in acts of devotion, and instructing others. An air of piety was thereby put upon them, and upon their whole conversation. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: consecration, holiness, nazarite vow, sanctified
If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, “Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat”? No, you wouldn’t say that. You would say, “Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink.” Servants don’t deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed to do. And that’s how it should be with you. When you’ve done all you should, then say, “We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty.” (Luke 17:7-10)
