GATS Brazil Trip, Part 8

Ramifications, Part 2

When God brought the Hebrews out of slavery from Egypt, He gave them the Law, and one of those provisions was called the Nazarite vow, which is detailed in Numbers 6. Samson’s mother lived as a Nazarite from the time the Angel of the LORD told her she would have a son. Samson was to live the Nazarite life all his life from the time he was born. As we know, he had difficulty with that, as many would today.

What would it look like today to be a “spiritual” Nazarite? This is what I wrote in my journal the second week of July. I was still cocooned with God during this time, but I was beginning to feel a little bit better and could write things down.

“This is the ultimate. The Nazirite vow was very serious and not undertaken lightly. But oh, the results. It was more than a vow; it was a lifestyle … for the length of the vow. I wonder if many took it for life. It was a very severe set of “rules” — but those outward rules were to strengthen the soul and spirit—showing a FIERCE dedication to God.”

What would that look like today? The Nazirite was to never consume anything from the grape. Not grapes themselves, not wine or any other product from grapes. They were to never go near a dead person. They were to never cut their hair during the length of the vow.

Spiritually speaking, I think, and it’s only my opinion, I believe a spiritual Nazirite would be someone who would separate themselves from the things of this world. Whatever parts of the world they have engaged in, that is what they would separate from. Our pastor believes many of our congregation have endangered their royal priesthood by too much involvement in social media. I said this before, our pastor is the holiest man I know. He practices what he preaches.

As for me, television, and to some extent social media are things I am separating from. Television is already gone. I am cutting way back on social media so that my priesthood isn’t “mixed” with black brine (see previous post).

For me especially, God has brought to my attention, that violence is never acceptable to watch. When we see violence, we can eventually become desensitized to it. Studies have been done that bear this out.

Next time, Trip Wrap-Up & Team Picture