How can we "consecrate ourselves" today as Joshua 3:5 instructs? Verse Focus “Then Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.’” (Joshua 3:5) Understanding Consecration • To “consecrate” (Hebrew qadash) means to set apart, to dedicate wholly to the LORD. • In Joshua’s day this involved ceremonial washing and abstaining from anything that would defile. Today the principle remains the same: we deliberately separate ourselves from sin and ordinary distractions so God can work freely through us. Why Consecration Still Matters • God’s wonders follow readiness. Israel’s crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3:14-17) came after their consecration. • The pattern endures: “Pursue holiness—without it no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). • Romans 12:1-2 calls believers to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice…holy.” Steps to Consecrate Ourselves Today 1. Heart-level Repentance • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9). • Invite the Spirit to search and expose hidden faults (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Cleansing from Defilement • “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit” (2 Corinthians 7:1). • Break with anything—media, habits, relationships—that muddies moral purity. 3. Fresh Surrender of the Body • Offer every faculty—eyes, tongue, hands—as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). • Practical action: schedule your day so appetites serve God’s purposes rather than rule you. 4. Immersion in God’s Word • “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). • Set apart unhurried time daily for reading, meditation, and memorization (Psalm 119:9-11). 5. Focused Prayer and (when led) Fasting • Jesus assumed His followers would fast (Matthew 6:16-18). • Fasting quiets the flesh, sharpens discernment, and signals earnest dependence. 6. Obeying Promptly • Consecration is incomplete without obedience: “Be doers of the word” (James 1:22). • Start with the last clear instruction God gave—He rarely reveals new steps until we honor the previous ones. 7. Removing Competing Loyalties • “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). • Identify and dethrone anything stealing affection—career, possessions, entertainment, even ministry itself. 8. Practicing Love and Service • Pure devotion expresses itself in tangible care for others (James 1:27). • Serve within your church, support the needy, share the gospel—holiness in action. 9. Cultivating God-Centered Community • “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not forsaking assembling” (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Accountability and encouragement protect a consecrated life from drift. Living Consecrated Lives Consecration is both decisive and continual. We make a conscious declaration—“Lord, I am Yours entirely”—and we reaffirm it daily. As we do, we position ourselves, like Israel by the Jordan, to witness the LORD’s wonders in and through us. |
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