Good day dear friends.Here is our study guide for today: Sunday: Numbers 4, 5, 6How and where are nazarite principles preserved in the church today?PRAYER THEME FOR THE WEEK: Here are some days of celebration in mylife for which I would like to give thanks:Here are some people who, to my knowledge, don't have too manyreasons to celebrate. I will pray daily for them:The most famous of nazarite characters was Samson. Given to God ascuh by his mother, Samson led, for the most part, a life of anazarite. We know his weaknesses, but his strength was the keepingof the vow to not touch his hair. Some believe John the Baptist wasalso a nazarite in the way he lived his life.Do we have any nazarite principles preserved in the church today? Ifyou're not familiar with the Social Principles of The UnitedMethodist Church, these are found in the first part of The Book ofDiscipline 2004, and they state our agreed upon statements of beliefconcerning social issues. Some of you might be surprised to findthat on paper, we as United Methodists believe in and should practiceabstinence in matters of alcohol and tobacco. There is nothing inthere about one's hair. I would say wash it at least once a day, butthat's not a social principle! The length of your hair if your ownmatter. As for touching the dead no problem there for most people.I won't even mention the univesity's upcoming forensic lab wherecorpses and their decay will be studied, at what the media andcritics are calling a "body farm." But beyond just seeing this asdo's and don'ts, it's a matter of consecration to God, to have ourdesire to love and serve God be as pure as we can make it. In thematter of alcohol, we know its power to destroy lives, families,property, etc. And you will say, "I know my limits" or "I only drinkmoderately," but to live a life that wants to avoid temptation is onethat tries not to open the door to anything that might cause harm ordamage to us or our loved ones or others. There is a reason God madethat the first requirement among nazarites. But it is not onlyalcohol, it's also other things, such as speaking about others thingsthat are not true, saying things to others that hurt and damage. Weknow the list goes on and on; things that are keeping us from beingholy.How pure and holy are you striving to be? This weekend a large groupof pilgrims at an Emmaus Walk heard a talk on piety and what thatmeans. (For more information on that and other talks, go on aWalk!). Basically, are you seeking to live a godly life?PRAYER: Lord, You know better than me, what obstacles exist in mylife that are keeping me from being a holy person. Help me recognizeand accept who and what they are so that I can, with Your help, dealwith them. I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!e.v.
