Ready, Set, Go! This year’s school-wide theme comes from Acts 20:24…”My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (NIV)
In the English language we use the word “set” in a variety of ways. You can “set” the table, or you can “set” a volleyball to your teammate. You can have a “set” of encyclopedias on your shelf or challenge a friend to a match with your chess “set.” We can also “set aside” our money for a future vacation, or we can “set apart” our china dishes for special visitors. In these instances to be “set” is to be placed apart, saved, reserved for a specific purpose.
The Bible tells us that we are “set apart,” but we are not set aside on a shelf — we are set apart to do God’s work. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’ workmanship created to do good works. We are set aside to do good works for God. I Peter 2:9 shows us that we are set apart as different — a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession — in order to declare God’s praises. As Christians we are truly “set apart” to be special beings for God’s loving use!
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We are also to set our hearts on things above, on the things of God (Colossians 3:1). We can set our minds on the things of God when we pray, read scripture or worship Him through song. This setting of our minds is tied to last year’s theme verse as we strive to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. As we “set” our minds on God we will be transformed and will be “set apart” from the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2).
1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to set Christ as Lord in our hearts! This means that our lives are submitted to His authority and can be set apart for his purposes.
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We become “ready” when we accept the gospel message and receive Jesus as our Savior. We further prepare ourselves as we obey the Word and as we grow in our relationship with Christ. As adopted members of God’s family we are then “set” apart as a new creation, called to do God’s will. We are not “set” on a shelf —we are set apart with a purpose. Just as Paul wrote in Romans 1:1, we are servants of Christ, set apart for the gospel of God.
