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 am contemplating the path to consecration and what that actually means.
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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 am contemplating the path to consecration and what that actually means.
For a God who created the universe, breathed life into man, and on more than one occasion raised him from the dead... what is death? We are so small, and our experience so limited to this body, and this existence, that all of our judgements have become founded on this little slice of physical reality that we inhabit. Because of this limited view we have of life and death, as if through a drinking straw, we convince ourselves that we know what it is… but do we? Let’s take a higher level look at death.
During my time of devotion today I read Oswald Chambers. He wrote of giving ourselves to Jesus Christ and what that means. It is a surrender of not just our bodies, but our sinful lives and all we are. As I contemplated the relief that comes from this conversion, I also thought of the pain that the process brings, because as the new person is born, the old must die. The apostle Paul understood what yielding ourselves truly meant. In his letter to the Galatians he spoke of being crucified, of Jesus living in him, and of who he became after his acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
When we rise up in the morning and set about doing whatever it is that we will do that day, what is the first thing that crosses the threshold of our home as we step into the world? When we are preparing to go on a journey, a pilgrimage, or even a short trip, who goes before us to prepare the way, or who do we depend on to guide us? When the Israelites traveled they were preceded by the Ark of the Covenant, and were led by a pillar of smoke during the day, and fire at night. In other words, God went before them and led them always. Can we say the same?
The fruits of the Spirit are many, and wonderful, but the first of these fruits that Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatians is love, and rightfully so. When we first believe, and receive the Spirit, love is the first of the Spirit’s fruits that we are filled with. After the love of God comes upon us then the rest are made possible, and the fruits of the Spirit begin to set us apart as Christians. Without love the others can’t exist in us. So have we been changed, and opened ourselves up to the love that is offered us through the Holy Spirit?
Is there anything in our lives that we value more than God, and Jesus Christ? Do we turn our attention away from Jesus to concentrate on some desire, facet, or issue in our life? In all things good, bad, and indifferent, we should find ourselves in the presence of God, and our way through them all by following the teaching and commandments of Jesus.
Who do we call on in times of trouble? Where do we turn when all seems lost, and we are wandering blindly in our lives? We each have fallback plans that we engage when we can’t solve our own problems. We might not even realize we do this, but it is true. Some people call their friends for help, others go home, and some seek help from professionals such as doctors, psychologists, bankers, lawyers, or such, but all of us have some safety net we depend on... where does God fit into your list of those you turn to?