Table of Contents
Consecration
The definition of Consecration is the act of devoting or dedicating a person or thing to the service and worship of God. About consecration the Lord promised, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). We must yield our hearts to God, so that our lives may be changed into His likeness. By nature, we are alienated from God (Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26). And the warfare against self is the greatest battle we can undertake. Therefore, the surrendering of all to the will of God, may require a struggle.
Separation From Sin
Also, consecration to God means letting go of all that would separate us from the Lord. Jesus says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:33). There are many idles that keep us away from God such as money, worldliness, and selfish desires. We cannot be half the Lord’s and half the world’s.
When it comes to consecration, if we feel there is too much to give up for Christ, then let us ask ourselves the question, “What has Christ given for us?” The Son of God gave all–life, love and comfort–for our redemption (John 3:16). He was sinless, and the Prince of heaven; but “He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many” (Isaiah 53:12).
Consecration means to devote our lives to God and to set away sin. In view of the infinite humiliation of the Son of God, shall we complain about giving up certain sinful pleasures? The truth is that God does not ask us to give up anything that is good for us to have. No real happiness can be found in sin. For the way of sin is the way of sorrow, suffering and death (Romans 6:23).
Rely on God for Strength
When it comes to consecration, we can’t rely upon our own efforts to obey God’s law (John 15:51). People try to do good works in order to gain heaven but such religion is worthless. When Christ lives in the heart, we will connect to Him and self will be lost. Love to God will be the true motive for our obedience to His law (1 John 5: 3).
Christ accepts us as we are, with all our weaknesses, imperfections, and mistakes; and He promises not only to cleanse us from sin and grants us salvation through His blood 1 John 1:9), but to give us total victory over our sins and weaknesses and satisfy our heart desires (Psalm 37:4). It is His plan to give us peace and rest (John 16:33).
The Role of the Human Will
While we can’t save ourselves, salvation depends on our exercising the power of the will. We cannot of ourselves love God but we can choose to yield to Him. He will then, work in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Thus, our whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ. By yielding up our will to Him we ally ourselves with heavenly power and consecration of the soul is made possible. Redemption is thus seen as a cooperative work between God and us, with God furnishing all the needed strength for our use to triumph (Ephesians 2:10).
Consecration requires that we stay connected to God through daily study of His Word and prayer. When we do that, we can experience victory. But if we cut our connection with God, we lose the supply of grace and power. Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…” (John 15:5). If we abide in Christ, we can declare triumphantly, we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens” us (Philippians 4:13). The phrase “All things” means power over love of the world, lusts of the flesh, immorality, pride, and every sin that would rob us of eternal life.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
