June 17, transition (part 2 – “looking around”)

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves.” 

Joshua 3:5

Successful steps forward in faith often require a glance back to be reminded of God’s faithfulness.  From the story of Israel’s preparation for crossing the Jordan River and entering the land of promise, the Ark of the Covenant became such an opportunity for Israel to “look back” at God’s faithfulness and the establishment of His covenant as they prepared to move forward (Joshua 3:1-4).  

The people of God were called in the present to consecrate themselves.  As God’s promise, “I will do great things among you tomorrow,” caused Israel to look back at their past heritage and covenant, so this promise also caused Israel to “look around” their lives as they consecrated all that they were to the Father.  This resonates a simple and very necessary call of discipleship: “Be holy in all you do.” This exhortation to “be holy” encourages total surrender and consecration of self to God. “In all you do” measures the thoroughness of surrender and focuses upon one’s deportment and “going about.”  This “going about” is distinguished from the inner man but must correspond to the internal condition of the soul, nonetheless.  John Gill reminds us that God alone works our regeneration in the soul, “but external consecration of all parts of our public life becomes our responsibility.”  Augustine is quoted as saying, “let the acts of the offspring indicate similarity to the Father.”  Therefore, holiness is simultaneously God’s Work and our calling. We must join the call given to Israel in Joshua 3:5, and we must look around at all of our life and see the call for every part to be consecrated unto God.  This is the meaning and message of I Peter 1:15-16,

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Entering the Story

Concerning Israel’s call to consecrate themselves, the preparation was first, public: watching the ark. When it moved, they moved.  Second, the preparation was personal: consecrate yourselves.  (This directive mirrored that of Mount Horeb three days before God gave Moses the Law – Exodus 19:22.)  Joshua encouraged the consecration of the whole community in that very present moment before the crossing of the Jordan on the next day.  Joseph Benson (Leader and Pastor in the Early English Methodist Movement, 1749-1821) commented, 

“Historically, the directive for this consecration was any bodily impurity; but also, this was a call to the inner purification of mind and heart with a new obedience.”

Therefore, the outward purification reflected the inward purity of the heart and mind.  Referencing Joshua 1:7-8, God’s instructions were carried out: the people’s hearts would be careful to observe God and His Word.  The people were called to honor God genuinely in an act of consecration as they set apart themselves fully unto God.  

In application of this great story from Israel’s history, take a moment to look around.  What in your life is consecrated to God (set apart for Him)?  The Psalmist’s question, who may ascend to the Hill of our Lord (into His presence) is answered with, “he who has clean hands and a pure heart,” representing one’s heart of devotion to God (Psalm 24:3-4).  Look closely in and around your life, as Israel did when preparing to cross the Jordan.  Set your whole self apart to God.  

Positionally (what has been accomplished through Christ alone): Being set apart to God builds upon a positional emphasis (meaning our place or position as belonging to God), and this is only possible through Christ Jesus, and through faith in Him:

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (I Peter 3:18)

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10) 

Practically (what we are called to in our lives):  Having been set apart to God through Jesus Christ alone, the setting apart of oneself to God has a practical emphasis as we live according to God’s Word (as reflected through Jesus’ prayer to the Father for His followers):

Sanctify them bythe truth; Your Word is truth. (John 17:17)  

And, from our earlier focus, the call to consecration reflects the call in the New Testament to the practice of holy living: 

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do. (I Peter 1:15)

This emphasizes the holiness of God as our ultimate pursuit, meaning that one’s desire as a follower of Jesus is to reflect the glory of Our Lord and Savior through our words and deeds, and in our pursuits and passions.  The glory of Jesus expresses the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4), and reflecting the image of God, or His holiness, should be the very pursuit of our hearts.  Therefore, “in all we do,” represents the thoroughness of the adjustments we must daily make as we desire to honor God and give Him the glory He deserves. 

The message for Israel was “set yourself apart to God.”  The message today for God’s people remains the same: “set yourself apart to God.”   Oswald Chambers suggests “abandoned to God” is of greater value than one merely saying, “I want to be holy.”  So today, look around and see your whole life consecrated unto God.  This does not reflect a vain attempt at some idealized spiritual perfection, nor a harnessed legalism attached to religion.  This reflects an obedient response to the greatness of our King who by His grace alone has made us His own.  So, live life set apart completely to Him.  There is no other way to go forward.  

Blessings.