Visible

Remember the Nazirite vow from some of our Old Testament heroes?

All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. – Numbers 6:5

The abstinence of trimming of the hair made the commitment of this vow visible to all. It was a public expression in some ways maybe even providing a form of accountability. A significance to me today as it reminds me that my life, as a follower of Jesus, cannot be successfully lived in secrecy. If I am a light, I need to be a light to the world, not for my sake, but to glorify God.

Acts 15 describes three different presentations about what a follower of Jesus should look like. Peter describes that change coming from purified hearts through faith. Paul and Barnabas also described the importance of putting away the law because it was replaced by pure gospel. James concludes the conversation that a follower of Jesus should abstain from meat offered to idols so that visibly they can show their hatred of idolatry. We should also not participate in sexual relations before we enter into a covenant of marriage and we do not participate in sexual relations outside that covenant. Lastly we are to abstain from eating anything that had been strangled and from eating blood. That definitely was a culturally move as sacrifices were still being performed in the temple.

Visibility also means that others will make a judgement call as to whether they like me or not. Psalm 22 has many references to Jesus but this one strikes me today.

But I am a worm and not a man,
    scorned by mankind and despised by the people. – Psalm 22:6  ESV

Jesus carried not only the scorn of the people when He hung on the cross, a visible scene if there ever was one, but He also carried the loneliness that comes from having God do the same as the sin of the world was placed on Him.  Can you imagine His heart being broken by that and by the many who thought He was the Messiah, yet would not confess it, because they loved the praise of people mor than the praise of God.

What does my walk with Jesus look like to others? A question I will have to ask myself every morning and then review every evening.