"Consecrated Sheep or Separated Goats"
Exodus 28:1-43
Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 8:12-13
We're currently doing a series in our Sunday morning services entitled, "Lessons from the Tent". The series focuses on how the elements of the Old Testament tabernacle is a symbol of Christ and God's desire to be in relationship with us. The verses we've been reading in Exodus for the past few days have been very descriptive of how the tent of the tabernacle was to be constructed, and what the priests are to wear. I'm impressed by the detail God put into the descriptions. To me it shows how important it is that we prepare to meet with him.
In describing what the priests wear, there is a command to put a gold plate on Aaron's turban that says, "Consecrated to Jehovah". I was thinking this morning of how I need to wear that same sign. My life is dedicated to him. I am no longer my own. The way I walk, think & live needs to be entirely under the sign of "consecrated to Jehovah".
What will the consecrated life look like? We get a good picture in Matthew 25. Jesus says in verse 31ff, "But when I, the Messiah, shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory. And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and place the sheep at my right hand, and the goats at my left hand.
"Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, 'come, blessed of my Father, into the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me."
In verse 40, he says the familiar line: "When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!"
That's the great part of the story. That describes the life of those who have lived "Consecrated to Jehovah". The sad part is what follows. I wont give all the verses, but it's the story of those who did not help "the least of these". Jesus told them, "When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me. And they shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into everlasting life."
The goats were separated from His presence.
I don't want be separated from His presence. I want to be consecrated to Jehovah which means I am separated from the world. Every part of my life should be marked by the actions of one who is set apart FOR Him, not one who is separated FROM him.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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