What Are We Consecrating Ourselves To? | A SOAP devotional, By Pastor Jamie

 

Hosea 9:1, 10, and 17- O people of Israel, do not rejoice as other nations do. For you have been unfaithful to your God, hiring yourselves out like prostitutes, worshiping other gods on every threshing floor. When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved. My God will reject the people of Israel because they will not listen or obey. They will be wanderers, homeless among the nations.   The truth is people consecrate themselves to all kinds of things and experiences all the time. An Olympic contestant sets him or herself apart to pursue excellence in some form of athletic endeavor. This is an act of consecration. A person who passionately pursues pleasure sets themselves apart, too. They are making a decision. The prophet Hosea told the Israelites they had made decisions that meant they were consecrating themselves to a "shameful idol," which led them away from a connection with the living God. Hosea took no joy in announcing the time to receive the consequences of their disobedience would soon be on the way for the Israelites. In the same way that he had been called by God to love and care for his wayward wife, so the living God loved and cared for His wayward people. God had been very patient over many years, but many would have to leave their nation and homes in exile, and all would have to experience some very tough times ahead before they could return in repentance, recommitment, and renewed consecration. Jesus told His disciples to always make sure to count the cost of following Him, but it's also important to acknowledge the painful cost of choosing not to follow Him as well. We can, for instance, merely pretend to follow Him in a way that our "outsides and our insides don't line up" (definition of what it means to lack authenticity by Dr. Henry Cloud). Because we have invited Jesus to make a home in us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we never need to be exiles. Our home and our true identity are found in Christ alone.   Jesus told His disciples to always make sure to count the cost of following Him, but it's also important to acknowledge the painful cost of choosing not to follow Him as well. We can, for instance, merely pretend to follow Him in a way that our "outsides and our insides don't line up" (definition of what it means to lack authenticity by Dr. Henry Cloud). Because we have invited Jesus to make a home in us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we never need to be exiles. Our home and our true identity are to always be found in Christ alone.

A Prayer for today:

O Lord, like the prophets in the Old Testament our lips belong to You; speak the truth in love well through them. We give You our minds, and we pray for You to guide our thoughts to be Your best thoughts for us and through us. We declare that our hands are for Your glory, so work through them. We give You our hearts each new day so our ongoing relationship with You doesn't grow cold or stale. Please light us on fire and help us burn brightly for you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Pastor Jamie, Senior Pastor University Carillon—A Church Community Sent