How can we prepare ourselves today to meet with God, as in Exodus 19:14? What Exodus 19:14 Shows Us Exodus 19:14: “So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.” • Two key actions stand out—consecration and washing—both deliberate, physical signs that the people were setting themselves apart for a face-to-face encounter with the living God. • These same themes—separation from sin and cleansing—run all through Scripture whenever God meets His people. Consecration: Setting Ourselves Apart • “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) • Consecration today begins with surrender: yielding our goals, relationships, and habits to God’s rule. • Romans 12:1 calls this “presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” • Practical ways: – Start each day by affirming Christ’s lordship over your time and priorities. – Remove anything—media, relationships, hobbies—that pulls your heart away from holiness. Cleansing: Allowing God to Wash Us • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) • James 4:8 echoes Exodus: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” • Cleansing is both positional (Christ’s finished work) and ongoing (daily confession). • Practical ways: – Ask the Spirit to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). – Confess specifically; receive forgiveness immediately on the basis of the cross. Holiness in Daily Life • “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:15) • Holiness is not legalism; it is living consistently with God’s character. • Areas to guard: speech (Ephesians 4:29), purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4), stewardship of time and money (Colossians 3:23). Reverent Anticipation • Hebrews 12:28-29: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” • Meet with God expecting Him to speak, guide, and correct. • Cultivate awe: meditate on His attributes, read passages like Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4-5. Corporate Preparation • Israel prepared together; so do we. • Acts 2:42 pictures the early church “devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” • Hebrews 10:25 urges us not to neglect “the assembling of ourselves together.” • Encourage one another to holiness; shared commitment strengthens personal devotion. Practical Steps for Today 1. Schedule a regular time and quiet place for meeting with God. 2. Begin with surrender—verbally place every area of life on the altar. 3. Read Scripture aloud; let God’s Word cleanse your thoughts (John 15:3). 4. Confess anything the Spirit brings to mind, believing 1 John 1:9. 5. Worship with gratitude and reverence, focusing on who God is. 6. Apply what you learn; obedience cements preparation (John 14:21). 7. Engage with a local church family for mutual encouragement and accountability. |
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