What is a consecrated life? If you look at Romans 12:1, you get an idea of what it means. What Paul is stating should require us to ask, “Am I living a life in total surrender to the Lord?” As believers, we have settled the sin question (Romans 6:14), and now we must present ourselves in willing surrender to the Christ who laid down His life for us.
Consecration in the Bible
The word consecration means complete surrender to God—to seek, hear, and do His will, placing ourselves in absolute submission to be a vessel for His glory in every word and action we create. Our heart should reflect a life devoted to serving Him, for from the heart comes our sincerest desires (Luke 6:45). Paul reminded us in his letter to the church in Philippi that our thinking must reflect a heart that is focused on love (Philippians 4:8); to do so means our heart must be committed to reflecting the love our Father has for us.
Jesus warns His disciples about being a false follower in Matthew 7:21. It‘s not enough to simply confess Jesus as your Savior; you must also live a life that reflects the will of the Father. Empty words will ring hollow to Christ on that day you must give an account of yourself. Take stock of the life you are living, fellow Christian. Does it reflect a life of His will or yours? I’m certain every one of us has parts of our life we keep to ourselves and struggle to give it over to God. Ultimately, we must surrender this area to Christ as well. In the very next few verses, we hear the words of Jesus denouncing those who pretend to be His—words I’m sure none of us wish to hear the day we are called into His presence (Matthew 21:22-23).
Living Out a Consecrated Life
Consecration is not something simply added to salvation and is therefore deemed optional. True salvation leads to a life of holiness (Titus 2:11-14) and therefore should be viewed as binding upon every Christian heart. To view consecration as simply a “down-the-road” goal is certainly not what the writer of Hebrews suggested in the 14th verse of chapter 12: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
A consecrated life is accompanied by so many spiritual blessings. You live a life focused on others instead of yourself and possess an aura that truly reflects life in step with your Creator. You live to serve Him and look for ways throughout your day to humble yourself in service to others. As a child of God, you live a life on the right side of Paul’s admonition to the Galatians (Galatians 6:8); and when you stray some, you welcome the chastisement of a Father who wishes to bring you back (Hebrews 12:6)
Make today the day we surrender every part of our life to His will. Once we do this, we truly will understand what it means to be a living sacrifice.
Purposeful Pathways: A 30-Day Journey to Discovering Your Mission and Purpose
Key Features:
Daily Devotionals: Immerse yourself in daily reflections that illuminate the pathways to discovering your purpose, drawing wisdom from the timeless truths of God’s Word.
Verse Study and Application: Delve deep into carefully chosen Bible verses, exploring their meanings and practical applications to your life’s journey and purpose.
Prayer Sections: Connect intimately with God through purposeful prayers, seeking His guidance and wisdom as you navigate each step of your journey towards purpose.
Encouraging Others: Spread positivity and encouragement to those around you with dedicated spaces to share uplifting messages and support for friends and loved ones.
Daily Self-Reflection: Foster personal growth through guided self-reflection exercises, helping you understand your strengths, passions, and the unique gifts God has bestowed upon you.
Gratitude Journaling: Cultivate a heart of gratitude with daily prompts to recognize and appreciate the blessings that surround you, creating a foundation of thankfulness.
Format:
PDF file with clickable tabs to take you to any particular day as well as fillable forms to record your notes and thoughts. Instant download!
