My hair is getting long. I began growing my hair out several months ago, and I've been telling people I won't cut it till my wife and I have our baby. I joke that it is my covenant with the Lord. Did you know guys in the Old Testament would refrain from cutting their hair as a sign of their covenant with the Lord? It was actually a pretty serious deal.

In ancient Jewish culture when someone wanted to dedicate themselves to serve God, or to abstain and separate themselves from the worldly things, they would make a Nazirite vow. As a sign of their vow, or covenant, to consecrate themselves to God there were certain ceremonial requirements. They couldn't drink wine, they couldn't go near dead people, and they couldn't cut their hair. Not going near dead people sounds like a relief, but that also meant they couldn't attend a relatives funeral. These outwards signs indicated their internal commitment to God.

Even today we practice something similar called, fasting. Although the Nazarite vow and the practice of fasting are not the same practice there are similarities. In the practice of fasting you or I would give up something daily as a sign of our commitment to seek God and serve Him. Many people practice fasting by setting aside food for a day or two to focus more on God. I recently got a flyer in the mail about a ministry calling young people to observe media fasts. That means giving up your cell phone, iPod, computer, and other media devices for a weekend to focus more on God. Do you think you could do it? Could you do it for a whole week?

I am afraid that we have become week willed and distracted from what deep commitment to God looks like. You and I know there are distractions within each and every day that keep us from fully submitting to God. As Christians we are probably known more for our good intentions then good actions. I think about my life. Are there areas where I am so committed to God that I have given up things as a sign of my covenant to serve and obey God. Not using your iPod for a week may not seem necessary to serve God, but I bet every time you go to use your iPod you'll think about how you've committed to serving God. It would be your reminder of your covenant to serve God and God alone.

We need reminders of our often verbal vows to God. We pray, "God I'll do whatever you want". We say to our friends, "I'm going to really love God from now on." We tell ourselves that God is the most important and then we go watch TV, or spend 2 hours on facebook and neglect our vows. That is why we need reminders. Giving up facebook for a week won't necessarily make you holier, but it will remind you that God is the most important. It should remind you that once upon a time you told God he was the most important, and you would love him no matter what.

I'm going to give up music in the car for a week. I want that time to be a reminder to me that God should be first in my life. I can use that time to pray and meditate on his word. I want to have at least a part of my day where my actions back up my intentions. What will you give up for a week as a sign of your renewed commitment to serve and love God?

By the way, I think I'm going to let my hair keep growing too. :)

Matt. 22:36-38

-Josh