Consecrated, Lord, to Thee

³⁵ “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. ³⁶ Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. ³⁷ 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. 

Exodus 29:37

Before Christ the Israelites needed to follow a strict set of tasks to purify themselves before God. It look complicated measures and rituals for one to be deemed fit which isn't the case after Christ sacrifice. Now with Christ death, the distance between pure and impure is only a step away. It only takes the covering of Jesus' blood to cleanse use from our sinful nature.

How much have I taken for granted what God has given me in Jesus' sacrifice. The Israelites have been waiting for a messiah to come ever since the fall of mankind. They have been striving to be closer with God, but always failing because of their sinful natures. Yet I sin, I have that easy accessibility to come before Christ without going through those rituals. But I think thats the problem. I don't take God seriously. I don't show God the creator of the universe His due respect. God is greater than the president. God is greater than any superstar. Yet I treat him so lightly by not circumsizing my heart before I come to Him. I must consecrate my heart that may be fit to come into his presence. When I look at Stephen, I see a man who forfeited his faith and in the end lived more Christ like than any other. He was a servant first. A administrator and food deliver, yet he lived powerfully for Christ.

God is telling me to live more like Stephen. To consecrate my life and humble myself to see the importance of living more like Christ.

Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice that makes not only my life easier to be cleansed, but also gives me the accessibility to the Holy Spirit. You are no longer a God who sits in the throne of heaven, but you are in my heart. There is no greater gift than what you have given me through your death on the cross. Remind me to be more like the Israelites by preparing and taking my relationship with you more seriously. I love you Jesus.

In Jesus name Amen.