In the Old Testament, people would come before the Lord and by faith extend unto Him a promise to be in His service for a period of time, sometimes for life. Under a Nazirite vow, people would abstain from certain things, including intoxicating drinks. They would let their hair grow as a sign of being obedient and separated unto God. The Nazirite vow showed others what it was like to live a life blessed by the Lord. When the vow was completed, the person would have his head shaved and his hair burned on an altar to celebrate the glory of God.

God’s sovereign will is that He will reconcile all of creation unto Jesus Christ. His moral will is that we should be a people of holiness, separated from the world’s immorality and living by the moral code which He has given. That was exactly what the Nazirite vow required. The Ten Commandments were not something “checked off”; they were part of the entire understanding and a product of the vow.

The Lord has an individual will for each one of us. “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

In the New Testament, a person who enters into a relationship with Jesus Christ shows it by their lifestyle, rather than their hairstyle. The only way we can ever be pleasing to the Lord is to be in a right relationship with Him. If we are to become His servants, we must “sprout” like a seed that has been sown. Even Paul spent seven years learning to be led by the Holy Spirit before he entered into his vow to be a bondservant of Christ.

Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Have you met Him? Do you trust Him as Lord and Savior? Have you surrendered to discipleship? Are you growing morally and spiritually? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Are you learning to serve Him daily? Does your service bring celebration of Christ’s glory? If not, it is time to separate yourself from whatever is holding you back from being totally committed to Him. Forget the New Year’s resolution. Make a vow to Jesus Christ.

Pastor Odom’s message can be heard each Sunday on Radio KAML, AM 990, at 8:30 a.m. Choate Baptist Church meets for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., Worship at 11 a.m., and Sunday and Wednesday Evening Services at 7 p.m. Hope to see you this Sunday.