The Nazarite Vow

Responding To God's Grace

God is Faithful

Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) 

God Answers Prayer

Numbers 6:1-5 The Message

Nazirite Vows

6 1-4 God spoke to Moses: “Speak to the People of Israel; tell them, If any of you, man or woman, wants to make a special Nazirite vow, consecrating yourself totally to God, you must not drink any wine or beer, no intoxicating drink of any kind, not even the juice of grapes—in fact, you must not even eat grapes or raisins. For the duration of the consecration, nothing from the grapevine—not even the seeds, not even the skin—may be eaten.
5 “Also, for the duration of the consecration, you must not have your hair cut. Your long hair will be a continuing sign of holy separation to God.

For Reflection

Throughout his writings, Richard Rohr points out that that we humans are a part of God's divine creation.  As such, then, we too, are divine. In Biblical times, some showed their devotedness to their faith by taking a vow of separation from the world. Subsequently, such promise usually was in force for a specified time, and the devotee was expected to follow some rules which were often a visual sign of their vow. Some Christians in modern times also take similar vows. Some promises are visibly manifested, and some are not.

Throughout his writings, Richard Rohr points out that that we humans, made in God's image, are inseparable from God's divine creation.  As such, we, too, are divine. So the question is, "How do those of us who recognize our divinity separate ourselves from the common cultures in which we live?

Pray
In your prayer of devotion to God, think about your holiness, your divinity. Confess your desire to be worthy of God's confidence in you. Contemplate in silence those things which mark the human divinity of Jesus. Open your mind to the wonder and beauty of the gift God has given you and all of humanity. Pray that you will be the humble servant of God. Pray and listen to the Christ that lies within you.


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