What does "consecrate them today and tomorrow" teach about holiness in our lives? The Setting at Sinai “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes’” (Exodus 19:10). Why the Call to Consecrate? • God Himself was about to descend on Mount Sinai (v. 11). • Holiness is required whenever God draws near (Psalm 24:3-4; Hebrews 12:14). • Consecration marked Israel as a people set apart from surrounding nations (Leviticus 20:26). Lessons from “Today and Tomorrow” 1. Immediate Obedience – Holiness is not optional or negotiable; God gives a clear timeline. – Delayed obedience is disobedience (James 4:17). 2. Ongoing Preparation – “Today and tomorrow” indicates a process, not a one-time event. – Believers are called to pursue sanctification daily (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). 3. Expectation of Encounter – Consecration anticipates fellowship with God. – Jesus promised, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). The Symbolism of Washing Clothes • External washing pointed to internal cleansing (Psalm 51:7). • It foreshadowed the cleansing blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). • It illustrated removing defilement before approaching God (2 Corinthians 7:1). What Holiness Looks Like in Daily Life • Set-apart Thinking – Fill the mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:11). • Set-apart Speech – Words seasoned with grace and truth (Colossians 4:6). • Set-apart Actions – Flee sin; pursue righteousness (2 Timothy 2:22). • Set-apart Relationships – Unequally yoked ties hinder holiness (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Practical Steps to Consecrate “Today and Tomorrow” 1. Examine the Heart – Ask the Spirit to expose hidden sin (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Confess and Forsake – Agree with God about sin and turn from it (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13). 3. Renew the Mind – Daily Scripture intake transforms thinking (Romans 12:2). 4. Guard the Boundaries – Israel set limits around the mountain (Exodus 19:12); believers set moral boundaries in life. 5. Pursue Communion – Holiness prepares us for deeper worship and fellowship (Hebrews 10:22). Key Takeaways • Holiness begins with God’s command, not our preference. • Consecration is both immediate and progressive—“today and tomorrow.” • Cleansing precedes communion; purity prepares us to meet with God. • The same God who called Israel calls every believer to be “holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). |
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