05/16/2017
To consider yourself consecrated requires a complete dedication of yourself to God. He does not give a measure of Himself to us; He gives us Himself totally. This morning I contemplate the path to consecration and what that actually means.
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
To consecrate oneself requires more than just following Jesus, it requires us to dedicate our lives and how we live them to Him. The bible illustrates this to us when a rich ruler approaches Jesus and asks Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. In this story Jesus tells him:
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."”
Consecrating ourselves doesn't require us to give half of ourselves, but rather, all we are. Like the rich ruler there can be nothing that separates us or draws our attention away from Him. The story isn't a commandment that we all sell everything we have... Only those things we might value more than God or which are an encumbrance to dedicating our lives fully to Him. E.M. Bounds says it in this way...
"Consecrating is much more than setting oneself apart from sinful things. It is living a holy life as opposed to a worldly life. It is living a life that is devoted to God and His purpose for you. It is devoting all we have to God for His use.
It involves our whole being, all we have and all that we are."
Jesus wanted the rich ruler to place God before all else in life, but in the end, the wealthy man could not give up what he truly loved most... his earthly treasure. We all have an "earthly treasure" of some type. Perhaps it is something that gives us pride, or a skill that we use for earthly purposes that Jesus calls us to redirect to His use. Whatever it is, we will be asked to turn it over to the use of the Lord. It isn't merely really about being financially wealthy or poor.
On the street downtown is a man who plays his instrument for those who pass by. They hear the music and toss money into the case at his feet. With this money the man is able, in a very meager way, to sustain himself and maintain self-sufficiency. This man takes great pride in being able to support himself.
What if the street musician asked Jesus the same question as the wealthy ruler? What would be the reply? Would it be to sell his instrument, abandon his street corner, and follow God? Could the musician give up his livelihood; then sleep and take his meals at the Rescue Mission where he would witness to those around him? Is giving up that part of ourselves which separates us from consecrating our lives to God any easier for the poor musician? Consecration requires sacrifice and the courage to trust in God.
God wants of us what we want from those we love; a complete love and dedication to one another. Although there is no separation at death with God, our wedding vows echo this desire when we pledge to one another...
"to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."
This morning I pray that we place God foremost in our lives and live in holiness. I pray that we take those things which separate us from Him and set them aside. I pray that we take our money, our musical abilities, our prideful things, and put them into God's hands and to His service. God doesn't want us destitute... He just wants all of who we are. I pray that we are each able to devote ourselves, consecrate ourselves, to a life with Him.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for loving me as I give my all to you. You are the focus of my life, and the essence of all that I do. Help me Lord to love you more with every waking thought and all that I do in this day. Let your Son Jesus be the Good Shepherd who guides me through my day and in whose voice I find comfort, and reassurance that all is well in your pasture. If by chance I should stray, I rest assured that He will come for me, and should I look up and not immediately catch sight of Him, I will know that He has gone to retrieve another and will return shortly with that lost soul... returning it to the flock. In as much as I seek consecration, you seek me, and in that searching, one for the other, I find your love and your will for me, and you find my total dedication to you. Father call my name and hear the bleat of my voice "here am I!"
Rich Forbes