In his poem “How to Be a Poet,” Wendell Berry says, “There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.”
Because God created all things—the heavens and the earth—we know this is true. All is inherently sacred. Only sin and evil can destroy and desecrate. All humans bears the imago dei, the image of God. However, today’s passage in Exodus also shows us the importance of consecration to God. The Faithlife Study Bible describes how the Hebrew word used in Exodus 29:1, qadash, “refers to being holy or making something holy.” “The concept of holiness fundamentally indicates separation,” says Faithlife. “Someone or something is set apart for sacred use, as opposed to ordinary use.”
We might think about it this way: Redwood forests stretching along the Pacific Northwest are made by our creator God. They stand as sentinels for us to feast our eyes on. They house birds and other living organisms. They contribute to the flourishing of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem. Each tree, needle, and pine cone has mostly ordinary uses.
But when God instructs His people with a specific task, like preparing a sin offering or ordaining someone to the priesthood, ordinary things are suddenly used for sacred purposes, as we see in today’s act of consecration after the establishment of the Mosaic covenant. Bread cakes and burnt rams become a holy, “pleasing aroma” (Exodus 29:22–25). Garments become holy after being sprinkled with blood (v.21). An altar becomes “especially holy” (v.37).
When Aaron and his brothers are selected as priests, they are now ordinary men set apart for sacred use. They are holy. “The priesthood is to be theirs by a permanent statute,” Scripture tells us (v.9). This new role is meant to be a lasting one, the evidence of God’s redeeming work making its way through His people, moment by moment, beginning in Scripture’s opening pages to the very end. Jesus now holds this role of the High Priest, the One “exalted above the heavens” and the only One truly capable of removing our sin (Hebrews 7:26).
Being set apart by God is not something we take lightly but a sacred and holy calling. Thankfully, we have the testimony of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us walk this calling out faithfully. Thanks be to God.
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37 thoughts on "Instruction for Consecration"
Thank you, Lamb of God. Emmanuel. ❤️
Lord we thank you for all you do
Today was a great reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made. I cant imagine having to go thru all of these things in preparation for my sins to be forgiven.
We will have a healthy relationship with Jesus when we realize that we need Him to do life. Leaning not to our own understanding. Be blessed yall!
❤️
Did you notice in verse 37, whatever touches the altar becomes holy? My expectation would be that the altar would be made unholy but this really shows the power of God’s holiness that everything he touches becomes holy.
Today’s reading reminded me of the hymn, “Washed in the Blood”. I’m so glad Jesus was our blood sacrifice for our sins, that he paid the requirement. The killing of an animal was violent! And he did it for us. May our thankfulness never cease as we contemplate his love and sacrifice for us.
Crystal H. I am Methodist have been for 66 years. My brother grew up as a Methodist just as I did. He feel out of faith for a while and when he came back, he asked to be Baptized again. He felt the need to cleanse. I have a problem personally with being re-baptized but I don’t feel that way for others. If they feel led to be baptized that’s a decision each person must playfully make. It doesn’t “erase” their infant baptism.
Dorothy.. praying your sister gets good results and answers that she needs to heal.
Like others have said, I think it’s a great idea. It reminds me a little of all the couples who got married over the pandemic at courthouses and are now having wedding ceremonies to celebrate their union publicly, they aren’t any more married than they were before but now they get to share it with family and friends.
I would however mention it the leader of your church, if it hasn’t been brought up already and make sure you are on the same page before you speak with your kids. Since you said your church has Baptist routes I’d bet it’s fine but I wouldn’t want to ok something and then have the church leader say no
Like others have said, I think it’s a great idea. It reminds me a little of all the couples who got married over the pandemic at courthouses and are now having wedding ceremonies to celebrate their union publicly, they aren’t any more married than they were before but now they get to share it with family and friends.
Crystal H. How wonderful that your boys want to publicly proclaim their allegiance with Jesus. I am so touched. Let’s rejoice and pray for their sweet lives which they are wanting to set apart for God. I say any move they want to make in the right direction is a good move.
Crystal H. How wonderful that your boys want to publicly proclaim their allegiance with Jesus. I am so touched. Let’s rejoice and pray for their sweet lives which they are wanting to set apart for God. I say anything
Crystal H., I agree with all the others if they want to get baptized again I would let them. I was baptized twice, but mine was, I guess you could say special, my second baptism was in the Jordan River when I went to the Holy Land. But my mom was baptized twice, she did it so that one of the children of the church that she taught would see it wasn’t scary or frightening. I admired my mom for that.
Along the line of the foul smell, we need to remember, in those days they took baths only once a week or less. Also, they didn’t have deodorant and had been traveling in the hot desert with long robes that covered there whole bodies, except their hands and feet and maybe their neck. Also, they only had one, maybe two, changes of clothes. Your neighbor and priest and everyone else probably smelt just as bad as you did.
❤️
Lord thank You for sending Your Son to be our High Priest. Thank You for blessing us with Your Holy Spirit and Your image, help us to follow Your teachings each and every day. Amen.
Sisters, please continue to pray for my sister, Carol, they are doing bone marrow test d/t her platelet count being a million. The doctors aren’t sure if it’s a residual effect of her having had COVID or if she might have cancer. One of my niece’s friends is going to try to help with feeding the cat.
Be blessed and sing a song of joy today sisters.
Crystal I was baptized as an infant and later (much) decided to get baptized again from choice. My children were dedicated as infants and when around 10 asked to be baptized by choice. Same with my grandchildren. Look at it as a beautiful affirmation of faith.
I think it is great that they want to publicly affirm their commitment to Jesus!
I was baptized as an infant as well, but I think that is more the parents offering the child back to God… When I was older, it was my decision, and represented me handing the reins to him of my life personally.
Crystal H,
In Scripture, water baptism is a symbol of repentance, removal of sins, and a self dedication to the Lord. I was baptized as a baby but like your sons want to, chose to be baptized later in life. I felt the Lord tell me it was my way of making my faith public and my own.
I would encourage you to let your sons do it for themselves. It says to them they are choosing Jesus for themselves, not anyone else. I think their desire to be baptized is a beautiful thing if it is truly for the Lord !!! :) Blessings
That is what confirmation is. Confirming your baptism.
I would allow them to be baptized now as they’re the ones making the choice to show others that they want to follow Jesus the rest of their lives.
This is not related to today’s reading but has been on my mine. I chose to be baptized as a teenager when I first came to Christ. As parents, we chose to baptize our boys as infants as was the tradition of our Lutheran church and belief in God’s promise to his people.
Fast forward, my boys are now 11 and we long ago switched to a church with baptist roots. My boys have recently asked to be baptized, saying you chose to baptize us, now we are making the decision to do it. How do I respond? I don’t see harm in allowing them to make this public decision now, but I also don’t believe that they need to be baptized 2x. Is this a silly question?
This is not related to today’s reading but has been on my mine. I chose to be baptized as a teenager when I first came to Christ. As parents, we chose to baptize our boys as infants as was the tradition of our Lutheran church and desire to claim God’s love for them. Fast forward, my boys are now 11 and we long ago switched to a church with baptist roots. My boys have recently asked to be baptized, saying you chose to baptize us, now we are making the decision to do it. How do I respond? I don’t see harm in allowing them to make this public decision now, but I also don’t believe that they need to be baptized 2x. Is this a silly question?
This is not related to today’s reading but has been on my mine. I chose to be baptized as a teenager when I first came to Christ. As parents, we chose to baptize our boys as infants as was the tradition of our Lutheran church. Fast forward, my boys are now 11 and we long ago switched to a church with baptist roots. My boys have recently asked to be baptized, saying you chose to baptize us, now we are making the decision to do it.
Amen..daily and continuously devoting my life to God is the only way. I get distracted by life stuff, and I’ll find myself making bad decisions. I love the Lord, and it feels so bad to get off track. I learned that through these mistakes that a self righteous spirit was fueling my motivation. My shepherd opened my eyes to see me and I asked God to forgive me.
Thank God through you for this passage of reading and reflection. The great sacrifice of Jesus Christ reminded me more that in spite of all the distractions, as long as I continue to consecrate myself,not trying to fix anyone or anything else, Jesus will work it out. As a mother, I tend to try to make it all right. I’m learning at 56 that it’s not my job. And, it’s hard. It’s evil for me to fix it, my trust in God will destroy all evil, and make everything right. Letting go,,,letting God.
So many nuggets today! The wearing of garments is a picture of the character and life of the believer. Christ has taken away our dirty rags and given us a robe of righteousness. ~Each man was marked with blood on the right earlobe, the right thumb, and the right big toe.l This was a reminder that they must listen to God’s Word, do God’s work, and walk in God’s way. ~Each day began with the priests sacrificing a lamb as a burnt offering, signifying the total dedication of the people to God, and the day ended with the offering of a second lamb as a burnt offering. That’s a good example for us to follow-opening and closing the day with surrender to the Lord. Hugs to my fellow she’s ❤️
I’m right there with you Maria Baer! I can’t help wondering how they got the stains off of their priestly garments as well.
In scripture it says Aaron and his sons. I don’t know why it says brothers in the Devo.
So true Kelly I bet the altar smelled awful but I’m sure inside the tent of meeting it smelled nice and was free of flies since incense was always burning.. the smoke keeping the flies away and the smell of the incense improving the odor
Consecration is the act of solemnly dedicating something or someone to a special service or purpose. As Christians, we are consecrated to the Lord. Our entire life should be fully devoted to God. In order to be consecrated to God, we must:
1. Be born again.
-Be cleansed of our sins.
-Be clothed with Christ’s righteousness.
-Be anointed with the Holy Spirit.
-Have our minds renewed & transformed.
2. Meditate on Christ’s sacrifice.
-His sacrifice atoned for our sins.
-His sacrifice was a propitiation for us — He died the death that we deserve.
3. Seek deeper sanctification (holiness) because of Christ’s sacrifice & the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.
-Commune with God.
-Disciple the next generation of believers.
-Receive Christ into ourselves.
-Submit to Christ’s reigning over our lives.
-Find our satisfaction in Christ.
-Continue our relationship with God.
-Fellowship with God — meet with God and allow Him to talk with us.
This is not a one moment occurrence. We must realize that every day and every hour we are given belongs to God. We must dwell with God continuously.
Exodus 29:36-37 NLT
[36] Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the LORD. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it; make it holy by anointing it with oil. [37] Purify the altar, and consecrate it every day for seven days. After that, the altar will be absolutely holy, and whatever touches it will become holy.
They were to cleanse the altar and purify it – not sure how they did that but the scripture says it was to be cleansed so it was absolutely holy. I am thinking that means it was to be made very clean.
Kelly, what a good observation. I was thinking how disgusting must the altars be with blood being thrown on the sides. I had not known or previously thought about the altar being so filthy. I think hearing about them growing up in the church had me focused on the sacrifice and not what the altar was like. So true the smell and sight shows the evil of the world.
We are set apart from the world for a Holy use by God. We are made as all other humans – ordinary and with a purpose, but when we choose to follow God and believe in Jesus, our purpose becomes more specific and we should live as such – in a Holy way that fulfills Gods desires for us.
Blood everywhere. In the desert heat, the smell had to have been overwhelming. What about the flies? What a picture of the fallen world. Among all the beauty the was the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priestly garements was the stench and gore.
I don’t recall reading where wondering Israel would have obtained the flour, olive oil and wine required for the offerings. They probably traded with other nations, but I don’t recall any mention of that while the wondered for 40 years.