In what ways can we apply the principles of consecration in our lives? Setting the Scene: Exodus 29:3 “Put these into a basket and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.” What Consecration Looked Like Then • Three kinds of bread placed carefully in a basket • A bull and two rams set apart for sacrifice • Everything brought together before the LORD for a single, holy purpose The picture is simple yet profound: ordinary items singled out, gathered, and offered entirely to God. That pattern still guides how we dedicate every part of life to Him today. Principle 1: Intentional Preparation • The priests did not grab random leftovers; each element was prepared in advance. • Daily application: schedule time for prayer, Scripture, and worship instead of hoping they “fit in.” • Romans 12:1 reminds us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” Preparation makes the offering real. Principle 2: Whole-Life Inclusion • Bread (sustenance) and animals (service) together pictured every area of life. • Personal resources, talents, relationships, finances—nothing stays outside the basket. • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 calls us to glorify God with our bodies because we are “not our own.” Principle 3: Visible Commitment • The items were publicly brought to the sanctuary. • Modern follow-through: open identification with Christ at work, school, and home. • 1 Peter 2:9: we are “a royal priesthood… to proclaim the virtues of Him who called” us. Principle 4: Purity Before Participation • Sacrificial animals had to be without blemish. • We pursue moral purity and repent quickly when we fail. • Psalm 24:3-4 highlights “clean hands and a pure heart” as prerequisites for standing in God’s presence. • 2 Timothy 2:21: cleansing ourselves makes us “useful to the Master.” Principle 5: Continuous Offering, Not One-Time Event • Consecration inaugurated the priests’ ministry, but daily sacrifices followed. • Keep short accounts: daily confession, praise, and obedience. • Hebrews 13:15 urges, “let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” Practical Ways to Fill the Basket Today • Start each morning by surrendering plans and asking, “How can I honor You with this day?” • Tithe or budget firstfruits to remind your heart whom your resources serve. • Volunteer or serve in church and community, turning abilities into offerings. • Cultivate holiness in media, speech, and relationships—guard the gate before impurity enters. • Celebrate communion and baptism faithfully, physical reminders of spiritual reality. • Keep a gratitude list as a modern “basket,” recording blessings you hand back in thanksgiving. The Outcome of Consecration • Deeper fellowship with God—He draws near to devoted hearts. • Clear witness to others—consecrated living is unmistakable. • Lasting fruit—what we place in God’s hands multiplies for His glory. Consecration is not only an Old-Testament ritual; it is a daily lifestyle of gathering every part of ourselves, placing it deliberately before the Lord, and trusting Him to use it all for His holy purposes. |
    |