What steps can we take to prepare ourselves spiritually to encounter God? Setting the Scene at Sinai “Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.” (Exodus 19:17) God’s people were about to encounter Him in person. Their actions before the meeting show us timeless steps for our own spiritual preparation. Step 1: Come When God Calls • Israel moved because God had summoned them (Exodus 19:3-6). • Respond promptly when He speaks through His Word or Spirit. Delay dulls devotion (Hebrews 3:15). Step 2: Accept Consecration as Essential • Moses was told, “Consecrate them today and tomorrow” (Exodus 19:10). • Consecration means setting yourself apart: – Confess and forsake sin (1 John 1:9). – Release distractions or habits that compete with holiness (Hebrews 12:1). – Dedicate time, body, and belongings to God’s use (Romans 12:1). Step 3: Practice External and Internal Cleansing • The people washed their garments (Exodus 19:10). External acts symbolized inward purity. • Let outward choices—speech, entertainment, relationships—mirror inward cleansing (Psalm 24:3-4). Step 4: Maintain Reverent Distance and Boundaries • Boundaries around the mountain guarded against careless approach (Exodus 19:12-13). • Treat holy things as holy—Scripture, worship gatherings, communion—so familiarity never breeds contempt (Leviticus 10:3). Step 5: Embrace Holy Fear and Awe • Thunder, lightning, and trumpet blast stirred fear (Exodus 19:16). • Healthy fear safeguards obedience: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Step 6: Seek Corporate Unity • Israel gathered “as one man” (Exodus 19:8, literal sense). • Unity multiplies expectancy; isolation weakens it (Acts 1:14). Step 7: Commit to Obedient Listening • God spoke; the people promised, “We will do everything the LORD has spoken” (Exodus 19:8). • Encounter without obedience breeds hard hearts (James 1:22-24). Step 8: Keep Ongoing Preparation a Lifestyle • Joshua later echoed, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). • Expectation of continual encounters keeps us in readiness (Titus 2:13). Living It Out Today • Schedule undistracted time in the Word daily. • Confess sin immediately; don’t wait for Sunday. • Guard your media intake; wash your “garments.” • Approach worship services early, settled, and prayerful. • Cultivate awe—ponder God’s attributes, sing doctrinal hymns. • Lock arms with fellow believers; attend, serve, and encourage regularly. • Obey promptly; small obediences pave the way for deeper revelations. Because Scripture is accurate and literal, these steps remain God’s proven pathway for meeting Him. Walk them, and stand ready at the “foot of the mountain” today. |
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