Devotional – Understanding Consecration in the Christian Life

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5) NIV.

The Christian journey is one of sacrifice and daily dying to self. We must be prepared to daily take up our cross and follow Jesus, living lives that are fully surrendered to Him. It’s all or nothing. There can be no in-between, no sitting on the fence. We are soldiers of the cross who are called to life a life of consecration. Such a statement naturally begs the question, what is consecration?

According to the Merrian Webster dictionary, consecration is:

1. To make or declare sacred or
2. To set apart to the service of God

As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are called to be made sacred and then set apart for the service of God. We are called to present ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, as stated in Romans 12: 1-2.  This is not a one- off event, but an ongoing process. As we renew our minds by meditating on the Word of God we are transformed into the image of His son (Romans 12: 2; Romans 8:29).

As we prepare ourselves to draw nearer to the Lord, let us cast our minds to the following:

1. Examine our hearts – The psalmist David recognized his wretched state and cried out to God, asking Him to create in him a new heart and to renew a right spirit within (Psalm 51). We dare not approach God with iniquity in our heart as he will not entertain us. We must strive to be at the place where we have clean hands and a pure heart and have not lifted up our souls unto vanity or sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:4-6). Like gratitude, a heart check is a must!  

• Be obedient – As we examine our hearts, let us be willing to be obedient to the directions of the Lord. It is better to obey than to sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Be prepared to give up the things he may ask us to give up, to forgive those who have hurt us, to let go of bitterness and resentment, to offer sacrifices of praise, instead of murmuring and complaining. Whatever He reveals to you, follow through with the appropriate response. Obedience unlocks the blessing.

• Be expectant – Having undergone the cleansing process, it is now time to draw near with hearts of expectancy. Like the children of Israel, we must make room for the Lord to do wonderful things among us. There is a myriad of wonderful things that the Lord, in His loving kindness and tender mercies can do in our lives, if we are willing to surrender and avail ourselves to Him. He longs to have increased intimacy with us, He desires us to be more sensitive to His voice and He longs to empower us to effectively execute the good works He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). His promise to us is that once He begins a good work in us, He will bring it to completion until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6).

Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? Are you panting after Him as the deer pants for the water? (Psalm 42:1) This is your time; this is your opportunity to taste and see that the Lord is indeed good (Psalm 34:8). As we spend time in His presence, let the cry of our hearts be for total transformation, so that like Moses, our faces will glow, that we will never be the same again and it will be obvious to all that we have been with Him. The time for consecration is now!

Meditate on the words of this song by Pastor Donnie McClurkin.

Prayer

Father, we humbly come before you, consecrating ourselves and setting ourselves apart for you to use us as you see fit. As we feast on your word and bask in your presence, we ask you to transform us so that we can be vessels suitable for your use. We recognize that we must become new wine skins so that you can pour new wine in us. Use us for your honour and glory. In the name of Jesus. Amen.