2 Corinthians 5:14-15 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. These verses clearly show us that the a man lives unto the Lord because he is constrained by the Lord's love. .......No one can consecrate himself unless he first touches the Lord's love. .....Consecration is based on the Lord's love. But it is also based on the Lord's right. This is the truth revealed in I Corinthians 6:19-20: "You are not your own... For you have been bought with a price." .....Therefore, as far as the Lord's right is concerned, we belong to the Lord. .....But merely being constrained by love or acknowledging His legal right does not constitute consecration. After a person has been constrained by the Lord's love and has acknowledged His right, there is a further step that he should take......Through the Lord's constraining and based on His purchase, we separate ourselves from every other thing. Henceforth, we live for and unto the Lord. This is consecration. .....It is to say to the Lord, "Today I will separate myself from everything to serve You, because You have loved me." - Watchman Nee
In the old testament, we see various instances of consecration or being set apart. Exodus 32:27-29 is one. 1 Chronicles 23:13 says '...Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants forever, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name forever. The Israelites were set apart from the other nations around them & the Levites were further set apart among the Israelites. But now by the grace of Christ, all who believe in Him are now Priests who are set apart to offer sacrifices of worship and praise to our Lord. But whereas certain laws compelled the levites, its the love for God & the recognition of his right that compels us now.
The Goal of Consecration is to serve Him, to wait on Him, to retain the honor that has been bestowed as vessels of God.....Consecration is not how much we can give to God. It is being accepted by God and being granted the honor of serving Him.....We do not beg others to consecrate themselves. Instead, we tell them that a way is now available for them to consecrate themselves. - Watchman Nee
Lets not look at the obvious. Consecration means you were set apart from Sin. Thats taken for granted. But we may have to change the way we view sin. 1 John 2: 15, 16 says 'Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world'. Mark 10: 17-21,........Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. 22At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth'. Jesus said a radical thing here. The same way he said that to look at a woman with lust is equal to adultery. Jesus said basically that you cannot have two masters. There is no percentages or sitting on the fence. Can you let go of the world for God? The answer to that question is important to God because he paid a heavy price for you. Many may say there is nothing that holds one to the world. But the evidence is in truly giving it up (even for a period of time)! I am reminded of Abraham here. At his age, he had nothing much to look forward to except an heir and the promise of fathering nations. But that very hope, he was willing to sacrifice when he placed Isaac on the altar. That's consecration.When everything for you starts and ends with the Alpha & the Omega!
But lets move beyond sin here. Luke 10: 38-41 says 'As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." This passage was a mystery to me. After all doesn't it say in 1 Corinthians 12: 7-26 that each member of the body performs his function and each is equally important. Didn't Jesus realize that if Martha didn't cook, he & his disciples would have to go hungry! Notice that Jesus didn't rebuke Martha. Rather He commended Mary on having chosen a BETTER thing. Jesus did not say that Martha worshipped in her own style & Mary in hers either. Mary knew in her heart that her Lord would be around only for a little while and so she separated herself to BE with Him, away even from the everyday aspects of life. That's consecration!
Unfortunately many of us including the author are still struggling with sin and are yet to reach a place where we have to make choices in the common. The difference between you/me & the Men of God is that they have reached a place where the Spirit of God can prompt them. Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. If you have hardened your hearts & quenched the Spirit in the bigger things, you will be unable to discern the voice of the Spirit of God in the common.
Which brings me to a few areas in our lives that people talk about, when referring to consecration. What is important to note is that while certain areas seem to be more important to some than others, consecration is not dependent on calling. The call to hate the world & everything that encapsules is given to everybody!
1. Entertainment: I am reminded of David Wilkerson, author of 'The Cross & the Switchblade'. The turning point or his moment of truth came when he decided that television was taking too much of his time when he should be praying. He disposed of his television, started praying, & God led & used him from then on among the inner city gangs. Entertainment per se is not wrong. (though one must be wary of what one sees, hears & does). But there is always a BETTER thing and that will not be taken away from you!
2. Music: I had this discussion many years ago with a worship leader about listening to secular music. His opinion was that, a lot of us don't pay attention to the lyrics that are being sung (sometimes the sweetest sounding number can be really obscene) and that will influence you in certain ways (especially the hip-hop & heavy metal genre). I agree with him on that front. Some people take the stand of not listening to secular music at all. IF it draws them closer to God, it is a better thing. But some people are so caught up with God & the worship of Him that they have no time for secular music or the argument of whether its good or bad. THAT is a good place to be in.
3. Dressing: A call to be modest about their beauty for women is not based on the views of men. Its for every christian woman in any culture to figure out for herself what consecration to God in this area is without getting into the argument of what turns on men in a particular culture & what does not. In some christian circles, people wear simple white clothes especially to church & shun jewellery. While some of us may say it smacks of legalism, it was probably sparked off initially by the desire to hate the world and its pursuits that they may be truly given to the Lord & not greed. But in institutionalizing this, legalism crept in & a religion of works akin to the Pharisees crept in. I met a Man of God in Delhi, a Chemistry professor by profession and a man given to fasting & prayer. In his country, I am sure he is considered well-off. But he owns only 2 pairs of pants & 2 shirts. By refusing to let the desires of the world overcome him, he is able to single-mindedly pursue God and is able to devote his energy, heart & time to God. That is a BETTER thing and that will not be taken away from him!
4. Alcohol: There are enough verses in the Bible that can be dug up to support total abstinence and the embrace of the drink. And lets not get into biblical, cultural, Enological (enology- the art & science of wine making) and linguistic interpretations of the same. But atleast ALL of us agree that getting DRUNK is a strict no-no. Its a part of life in some cultures that have embraced it in their social interactions or culinary traditions. In some cultures like in India, it is still viewed as more of a problem than as a way of life. Whatever the culture, it is for each individual to discern his motive (like in all things), practice moderation (like in all things- even food) & to ensure that he is not brought under the drink and instead is a witness for God before ALL men. If you are a person who believed that drinking is fine; but have found that you do get out of hand once in a blue moon, perhaps its time you thought about giving it up because YOU are the temple of God. Let each person be convinced in his/her own mind about this. After all consecration is a personal thing and each one gets HIS reward from God.
There is also something as corporate consecration. Many times in the old testament we see God removing the unhealthy elements from the Israelite camp. After losing a battle when they enquire of the Lord, they are forced to acknowledge that sin and put to death those responsible, before God went out with them again & led them to Victory. This is important even in view of the modern Church.
I am reminded of Samuel at this point. 1 Samuel 1: 22, 28 & 3:4 "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."....So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there....Then the LORD called Samuel. When you read it thus, you realize that Samuel was consecrated to the Lord, ministering before Him and from that consecrated state, when he was obedient to God (unlike Hophni & Phinehas), God called him to be a prophet. The call to consecration is small if you have a small view of that word and would like to interpret it in your own way. The call to consecration is small if you have an unbalanced view of God's grace vis-a-vis His holiness. But what's needed is a radical change, commitment, dedication & obedience that will result in a huge price to pay. No servant is greater than his master and if He paid a certain price to draw closer to His Father, we will have to too.
Consecration is about loving God and hating the world. Its amazing, when you are tuned in to God, that you actually know every teeny-weeney thing that displeases God instantly. What seemed OK at one point may suddenly not seem OK anymore. God cannot use an unconsecrated vessel. What took priority before and interested you doesn't interest you anymore. Consecration draws you closer to God, enables you to have a relationship with Him and enables the power of God to move freely through your life. If at this point you run through the areas of your life, your pet sins and things not yet yielded to God would you say that you are consecrated unto God? If at this point you do a simple calculation of the time you have set aside to be with God this month, would Jesus say that you love Him & not the world? He who has ears let him hear.
