Carefully Consecrated
God has a process of purifying and preparing us to dwell with Him forever.
“This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: ...Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy...For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you...They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”
Exodus 29:1, 35-37, 42-43, 45-46
It is amazing to see how connected the Scriptures are. This passage begins with consecrating the priests and is the same preparation that Jesus will go through as our eternal high priest. Before Aaron and his family serve the Lord, He gives clear instructions that need to be taken to set them apart. In a sense, the altar is the place where heaven meets earth. God says that atonement needs to be made to purify the priests and prepare them for the life serving Him. Why does He go to such lengths to make sure it is holy and right? God is holy and He can only dwell in a place that is holy. God wants to make a place where He can dwell with His people.
What does it mean to you to be consecrated? Why has God set you apart as one of His chosen people? Is there anywhere in your life that you have not given to God to consecrate or purify? What are you listening to, reading, thinking about? What is getting into your head that is getting into your heart?
“O God...they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. Do not hold against us the sins of past generations; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need."
Psalms 79:1, 8-9, 13
There will always be a battle that rages for our eternal souls. Our bodies are meant to be temples of the Holy Spirit, yet we are people who fall short. We have both intentional and unintentional sin that defiles our own Holy temples. The same sin that David sings about that defiled the temple back then is the sin that defiles us.
The good news is God never leaves us broken, but seeks to bring healing through His perfect love. He knew we could not cleanse ourselves or make atonement on our own so He sent His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. Have you spent time with Jesus today and allowed His love to wash over your mind, heart, soul?
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.”
Proverbs 28:5, 13-14
Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? One of the most cleansing practices is to pray Psalms 139, search me God and reveal any anxious thoughts in me. Search me and reveal anything that is not from you or drawing me closer to you. Consider inviting Jesus into this moment.
“Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil...because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods...your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?”
Jeremiah 13:11, 18, 23-25 , 27
In our world it is easy to get accustomed to doing the sinful things that many around us are doing. Open a social media app, turn on the television, or listen to advertising and you will see a world that actively promotes sinful behavior like lust, pride, selfishness, coveting, and idolatry. Where does pursuing the things of the world leave us? Feeling empty and alone.
God loves us too much to leave us there. He invites us a to a new life, a better way of living. He wants to make us clean and guide us to a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. He wants to give each of us a life of meaning where we are seeking to serve and give rather than take and hoard. Is there anything that you have become accustomed to doing that is keeping you from the good God is calling you to do?
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume...Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial...Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be...I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness...I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”
John 12:1-8, 25-26, 28, 36, 46-47
Mary consecrates Jesus before He becomes the atonement for our sin and breaks the hold of sin on our hearts forever. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. The same law that consecrated Aaron, consecrates us as Jesus makes atonement for all of our sins.
Why does He do this? So that we might dwell with Him forever. His own words are I came to save that you might have eternal life. Why does Jesus lay down His life for us? Because He loves us and it was all part of God's plan to make His dwelling with us and within us forever. Praise the Lord that He loves you so much that He cleanses us from all sin, all unrighteousness, all that separates us from Him.
Give thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ for He has set you apart, paid the price and cleansed you completely, that you might learn to be who He made you to be. He has prepared you to become one of His priests. You are set apart and saved so that you can now serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit leading you to connect others to the Savior.