From:
Date: October 16, 2019
Subject: It's October 16; Good Morning Union
“Consecrate yourself to God and be holy.” Leviticus 20:7
This is not normally the book I turn to for my devotional experience with God! But as I was looking it over again in preparation for class, not only this verse popped out, but the thing that I wrote in the margin some time ago. Sometimes I have looked at this verse as containing two expectations from me—consecrate myself, and be holy. This time I saw only one thing- consecrate myself; and the result will be that I am holy! Holiness is not something I do, it’s something I get—from God-- when I consecrate, or commit myself to Him. And the result will be HIS holiness lived out in me.
And in the margin of my Bible I wrote: Not, “what must I do to be saved?” but, “what must I, having been saved, do?” I can do nothing to be saved, any more than I can do anything to be holy. To be holy is not something I attain but a state, by definition of the word, of being set apart for a special use.” Since I have been saved by Jesus, and since I have been made holy by Him, my life WILL change- a lot!! Those two assurances will have a huge impact on my life, not SO THAT I get them, but BECAUSE I got them! Same result, different cause. My life HAS changed because I have realized what He has done for me. I believe it will continue to change as I continue every day to grasp the reality of what HE has already done for me.
Ellen White says, “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning, make this your very first work.” I give myself to you God (that’s consecrating as I see it!) BECAUSE the result of “consecrating,” “committing,” is salvation and holiness, being “set apart” for eternal life, both FROM God. Can’t get much better than that!
Have a great day consecrating yourself to God,
Pastor Rich
Quote for the day: “The right time to do the right thing is right now.”