Consecrated

Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” 

I read a devotional about the meaning of the lyrics in one of the great old Christian hymns and thought that the word study for the biblical word consecrate has been somewhat lost today. There is a good lesson here. This opening verse of Scripture speaks of total consecration to God. The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines this fifty cent word “consecration” as the act or ceremony of separating form a common to a sacred use, or of devoting and dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God, by certain rites or solemnities. Consecration does not make a person or thing really holy, but declares it to be sacred, that is, devoted to God or to divine service. A willing believer must come to the point where he or she totally commits everything to the Savior, trusting that He will transform it into that which is pleasing and useful to Him.

Joshua 3:5 “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

The precious Christian hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be” echoes the same thought. “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.” A grateful Christian so values the things of God that they will consecrate everything to Him, like the wise man in Christ’s parable: in Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

A consecrated life involves not only one’s possessions, but one’s entire life. Our choices and thoughts should always be made with Him and His priorities in mind. Ephesians 5:15-16 says: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. We have been redeemed from lives of sin and eternal damnation. Our Rescuer, the Lord Jesus, deserves our undying praise. There is no better use of our time and abilities. Like Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.”

Who God is and what He’s done for you and I should never be forgotten or made light of. Is our life consecrated to the Lord?

In Christ, Brian