This weekend Pastor Preston Morris shared a message at Gateway Church on consecration. It reminded me that we as disciples of Christ are set apart and separated to God. Because God has set His affection on us, He wants us to be set apart to Him.
Psalms 4:3 says, “You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.”
To be set apart or separated to God is to be consecrated. Pastor Preston defined consecration as the dedication of something or someone to the service and worship of God.
Consecration demands boundaries. You might not have thought of this but boundaries are part of being separated to God. Boundaries are dividing lines. They mark off the limit to where you can go. They fence you off from death and danger. God told Moses You shall set bounds for the people all around so they pay attention and do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. (Ex 19:11)
Believers cannot live a boundary-free life. There are rules, or dividing lines, we each must follow. You don’t set those boundaries. God sets them for your safety and health. God said, “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” (Leviticus 20:7-8)
Boundaries are determined by God, you set them in the appropriate places in your life, and you and God enforce them. There are consequences for crossing boundaries. The set-apart life cannot be lived by those who set their own rules. You are not at your best or safest when you set your own boundaries. You are at you best when your Creator sets your boundaries, and you live within them.
There have been times in my life that I have crossed the boundaries God had set for me and I suffered dearly as well as those around me. We must walk in the reality that we are separated to God. You can't play in the gray areas of your life and think you please Him and you will be okay.
I want to remind you that we are a consecrated bride to Jesus. She doesn’t flirt with others and think she is good with Jesus. We have been separated to Him alone. I encourage you to consecrate yourself to Jesus.
I like what Joshua said to the people in Joshua 3:5, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Bride of Jesus Christ consecrate yourself because when you do, God is going to do miracles among us.
I sense there is a stirring of the Holy Spirit to remind us that we as the Bride of Christ must separate ourselves afresh to Him. God wants to do miraculous things. Our world needs it, but we must be holy, separated and committed anew to Jesus our faithful husband-to-be.