In our everyday lives, in our urbanised western culture, most of us do not see sheep and goats being separated, but we do see ethnic groups being separated. We see separation between rich and poor, as well as different nationalities. There are Catholics and Protestants, and many other Christian denominations.

The thing that strikes me in this verse in Matthew is that there is only the wicked on one side and the righteous on the other!! Many people will be saying, But I went to church every Sunday. Others will claim to have prayed every night before getting into bed!

All Christians are called today to be priests. This means living for the Lord, representing Him to those around us, and spending time in prayer (Revelation 1:6 & 5:10). We must each do the job the Lord has called us to do with all our heart, mind soul and strength.

At the very moment Jesus died on the cross, this curtain of separation was torn from top to bottom! His death broke forever, the wall barrier that stood between us and our Heavenly Father, making it possible for us to have access to the presence of The Most High God.

Unfortunately many christians sin by what they say. It is too easy to speak half truths or to talk about something, or someone when we only know half the story. Most of us have been guilty of that. We must remember that ALL sin separates us from God and Jesus.

Onesimus was a runaway slave, and could have been punished by death in Rome at that time. But he became a Christian under Paul. As Paul had already met him at the home of his master, Philemon, Paul took it on himself to try to reunite the master and servant.

When Jesus said My God, why have you forsaken me, He was sensing the separation from God that resulted from the sins of the world. Yours and mine, not His own. If you are feeling far from God ask Him to show you if there is sin in your life.

Sometimes separation results in solitude and danger. Nehemiah was supervising the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem and trying to prepare for all possibilities. He knew there were enemies trying to stop the work. Working alone or with just one or two others was not easy and could be dangerous.

God had clearly told Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. And here we find Rebekah, wife of Isaac, unable to get pregnant! Isaac prayed for his wife and the prayer was answered. But it was an uncomfortable pregnancy, so she turned to the Lord herself.

God reads our thoughts, sees our attitudes. He knows when we are going along with the practices of the world. And He rewards those who do not go along with them. Is He calling you today, to separate yourself, maybe just for a short time, in order to seek Him?