Commit to Memory: “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves’ for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5 NIV).
The word consecration means “the separation of oneself from things that are unclean, especially anything that would contaminate one’s relationship with a God that is Just, perfect and a consuming fire.” Consecration carries the connotation of sanctification, holiness, or purity. To consecrate yourself is to separate and answer God’s call for service and to be separated to the world for witnessing. This by implication will demand of us to make a conscious and willing decision to dedicate our soul, mind, heart, and body to God for His use. This decision must be intentional and one borne of will, intelligence, affection, submission and total surrenderedness. Paul emphasizing this said in Romans 12:1 NLT
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
According to today’s commit to memory, great things, signs, wonders, healings and miracles for the children of Israel was predicated on if they will consecrate themselves. Upon consecrating themselves, they were assured of God’s promises as the Lord promised that He would do amazing things among them. This is true and same for all who will choose to toe the path of consecration as God is no respecter of persons; if he did it for one, he will and can do it for all, ‘if and only if’ we keep to the instructions.
In Genesis 12, we see in the exodus of Abram who later became Abraham that he was consistent with the practice of building altars any and everywhere he went. Infact he built four key altars. Why? It was a mark of his consecration unto God. Why? Altar building is the lifestyle of the believer. For example when Abram left the land of his nativity for Canaan- he built an “altar of praise and obedience” to God (Gen.12:7), he then moved from the lowlands to the mountain on the east of Bethel and built an “altar of prayer” (Gen.12:8), he moved to Mamre (vigour) in Hebron (fellowship). At this junction, he was now separated from Egypt (the world), free from strife, and enjoying total security; thus “he built there an “altar of peace” (Gen 13:14-18) unto the Lord” to enjoy the peace and presence of God. I pray may we quietly spend more time in God’s presence and “be at peace” with Him and among ourselves in Jesus name (1 Thess 5.13).
He later built a fourth “altar of provision” (Gen.22.9-14) at Mount Moriah. So we see that the consecration of Abraham- the Father of Faith was altars. He built and kept on building altars all his life. Why? The power you generate is in the altar you have. I pray for a regular user of this inspiration, the Lord shall impact and impress upon your heart a die hard desire to live a consecrated life till we see Him Glory in Jesus name.
Reflection: Any time you lose your consecration, you delay your journey in God’s agenda for your destiny. Guard it jealously…
Prayer Lines: Father, let and make consecration define my everyday living in the name of Jesus.