Consecrated

As I went through this last week and reflected upon it’s culmination two thousand years ago, I was struck yet again with how fast the days went by and my seemingly feeble attempts at consecrating those days to my Lord. You must understand, my desire was noble and attainable. To take a few days and set them apart (hence the term; consecrate) not only sounded reasonable but also a welcome change to the often frantic pace that in which we all seem to be living. But alas, as each day slipped through my fingers like fine sand from a dry sea shore, I found my self looking at the clock and wondering where my “set aside” time went? It’s not like I was playing Play station or Xbox or wasting my time, I was just focusing on other things that obviously needed my attention. Sunday school, Care Group, a sermon that I will deliver at a friend’s church in two weeks, three books that need my focused attention or I’ll never finish them. And on, and on, and on it goes – where does it stop? Please God, let me know. But something else meandered it’s way into my Tyrrany of the urgent. A thought that I have had many times before, even dare I say, taught many times before. My Lord gently reminded me that although I was “busy” doing things for him (and secretly checking those things off my to-do list) I was still “consecrated” in all I did. What a concept! What freedom! Fly away guilt! Be banished depression! And it was when things seemed the darkest that this “consecrated” thought brought the light that shines on my path and makes my way straight. And wonderful things began to happen. I began to praise God for what Jesus had done on the cross. What he had done for me. For paying the debt that was due to my name. For redeeming my life. For bridging the chasm that separated me from a holy and loving God. A God of immense power and purity as well as a Deity infinite in knowledge and love. With simplicity He reminded me that I am His. And that all I do, even when it feels like I’m just completing the mundane tasks set before me, all that I do can be “consecrated”to Him and for Him. So for all of us out there this week feeling like we’re just going to break even and push our way through until Monday I want to remind you of something that a prof said to me once… “Work like everything depends on you, pray like everything depends on Him and nothing will be the same again”. We who have put our faith in Jesus Christ the risen Lord have be consecrated, we have been set apart. May all we do and say this weekend reflect that awesome reality. Gloria Deos.