Consecrate is not the kind of word you hear dropped in everyday conversation, so let me help define it for you. In Hebrew, it means to set apart. This word is often used with the Israelites in the Old Testament. They were God's chosen people to be an example to the rest of the world. After being enslaved by the Egyptians, God sent Moses to help orchestrate their release. Through miracle after miracle, display after display, God guided the Israelites out of Egypt. His destination for them was the promised land of Canaan. Throughout the journey there, the Israelites are infamous for grumbling. At one point, they even said it would have been better if they stayed in slavery in Egypt.
Every time I see that complaint it shocks me. Better life as a slave in Egypt? Not likely. How could someone who was rescued by God from a horrible situation want to go back to it? It's hard to believe, but it happens more than you think. Jonah wanted to die more than live; Lot's wife looked back on Sodom as it was destroyed. It's a constant fight we undergo. Philippians 3 :13 says, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead," This is what we need to do as Christians; forget about the life we used to live and press towards the life that has been made ready for us by God.
As Christians, we need to consecrate ourselves from the world. How are others supposed to see Christ in you if you act like everyone else? Let me give you a hypothetical example. At the company you work for, you are not happy with the workplace environment. Everyone is in a sour mood. There is constant griping and complaining about the amount of work. "It's too much." "Our boss is not being realistic." etc. You have had it. A change must be made. For this change to happen, you are going to need to bring a positive outlook to your job everyday. I promise that if you continue to complain, others around you will only follow suit.
After reading that, you are probably thinking, "Duh, that's kind of obvious, isn't it?" Coming up with the solution is not the problem. Actually going through with it, that is a problem. It takes initiative to follow through. This, however, is what happens today with Christians. We get upset about evil around us, but do we really embody the change we want to see? Is there a distinct difference between how we act and how the world acts? This is why God calls us to be consecrated from the world. Not just to stand out from everyone else, but also to be in a position to receive his blessings. Let's take a look at Colossians 3:1-4.
3Â Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Â Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3Â For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4Â When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NIV)
People look at how Christians live today and see constraint. They think that the Christian lifestyle is simply a list of do's and do not's. While there is a list of things laid out for Christians to pursue and avoid, people often miss the point. God is not our drill sergeant. He is our father. A father who desires to see us blessed. When verse 2 says set your mind on things above and not earthly things, it's not God being rigid for the sake of being rigid. It's God giving sage advice. He's telling you a part of what it means to live consecrated. Your biggest worries in life aren't your next paycheck and your social status. You are more concerned with pleasing God and sharing His word with others. That's not to say you don't value your next paycheck, but you have your priorities straight.
Living a life consecrated for God is something that we should all strive for. The more you let God in, the more He can do for you. Sometimes we see people around us have success, and it makes us unsettled. "I know I'm doing what God is telling me to do, so why am I not successful like them?" Be careful not to fall into that. Your reward is different. Galatians 6:8 says, "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Learn to be content living consecrated. Others around you may benefit now, but they will fade away. You stay committed to God and watch Him suddenly change your circumstances.
Dear God, I thank you for this space to give honor to you. I pray that you help us live a life set apart. Set apart from the world and its corruption. Help us stay on the path you have set for us. Continue to witness inside of us, being our compass at all times. Show us the right things to say and the right things to do. Continue to mold us into the people you have called us to be. I pray for this your name Jesus. Amen.
For further reading, check out 1 Peter 2:4-10.