The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 3:5,
"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"
Just prior to crossing the Jordan River and beginning the task of taking the promised land from the Canaanites, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves. God would do amazing things, such as stopping the flow of the river when they crossed, and the people needed to be acceptable to God, prepared for use by him.
The term "consecrate" refers to being prepared and set apart for sacred service to God, being made holy or purified for his use. Our sinful condition requires it. We read in Exodus 19:10-15 of the need of the Israelites to consecrate themselves just prior to Moses meeting with God on Mt. Sinai to receive the law. Consecration was had by abstaining from sexual relations and washing both themselves and their clothing.
How about believers in our day? How are we made holy for use by God? In Hebrews 10:10 we read, "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." And again in verse 14, "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
"Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"
Just prior to crossing the Jordan River and beginning the task of taking the promised land from the Canaanites, Joshua told the people to consecrate themselves. God would do amazing things, such as stopping the flow of the river when they crossed, and the people needed to be acceptable to God, prepared for use by him.
The term "consecrate" refers to being prepared and set apart for sacred service to God, being made holy or purified for his use. Our sinful condition requires it. We read in Exodus 19:10-15 of the need of the Israelites to consecrate themselves just prior to Moses meeting with God on Mt. Sinai to receive the law. Consecration was had by abstaining from sexual relations and washing both themselves and their clothing.
How about believers in our day? How are we made holy for use by God? In Hebrews 10:10 we read, "And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." And again in verse 14, "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, appropriated by us through embracing him in faith, makes us holy, sets us apart for use by God, consecrates us for service to God. It is a permanent perfection we now possess in our standing with God.
We may still have all kinds of blemishes and wrinkles in our lives that the Lord is working with us on, but on his part, we have a standing of perfection before him. It is not a standing based on our performance before him, but an imputed one based on the performance of our perfect matchless Savior, Jesus Christ!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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