Consecrated

 To consecrate ourselves means to fully dedicate, to purge, to cleanse, and to prepare ourselves to be set apart for God. Consecration does not get much play time in our worship and study of the scriptures these days. Compromise is more common than consecration. 

God is looking for consecrated people to serve Him. He uses consecrated people and does powerful things through consecrated people. Look in Christian circles. Do you see consecration? Do you see it in the church? What about in para-church ministries? Do you see it in Christian education. I have been in all those arenas. I have rubbed shoulders with people in each of those institutions. I can tell you that consecration is rare. Hypocrisy abounds. Lukewarm living infiltrates leadership.  

Do we want to be consecrated? It costs something. A price more costly than many of us may be willing to pay. It will require sacrifice, deep commitment, and criticism when we refuse to compromise to go along with the crowd. 

Could it be one of the reasons we do not see God doing more is that God is waiting for a consecrated people to commit to Him. Sitting here I can say I want to be consecrated. In this moment that is the honest desire of my heart. What about when consecration is costly. Like getting up earlier for more prayer. Like staying up later when I am dogged tired. Like being inconvenienced by an assignment from the Master. Like saying no to things that others say yes to including my family. Like spending more time shut up alone with Him to be empowered for service instead of glad handing the crowds in superficial conversations. DO I REALLY WANT TO BE CONSECRATED? DO YOU? 

In Joshua 3:5 God spoke to the people through Johsua commanding them to consecrate themselves. If they did that God assured them, He would do wonders among them. The word wonders means great, difficult, and miraculous things. Our countries are crying out for God to do miraculous things in our midst. To not only change lives but to also transform an entire culture like He did in the First and Second Great Awakenings. Like He did in the Great Wales Revival. Like He did in the Saskatoon Revival that swept over the entire city and filtered through the province. 

O God, please make us willing to be consecrated. Help us to dedicate ourselves fully to You and to Your mission. Help us be willing to surrender our lives at Your feet in sweet surrender. To set ourselves apart in Your service. Please make us useful vessels for Your purposes. Let us joyfully and willingly accept any assignment whether big or small. Then we trust You to do wonders among us. Something miraculous so that You alone get the glory. In the mighty name of Jesus amen.