SANCTIFICATION

"For by one offering He has perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb10:14)

Devotion 4 of 16

THE SANCTIFICATION OF PEOPLE #1
God sanctifies individuals

God spoke with remarkable particularity to Israel concerning those belonging to Himself. "For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself" (Num 8:17). Those who were sanctified for God were not available for matters unrelated to Him. They belonged to Him, and were for His exclusive employment. This was not an imposing restriction. God made them individually. Their nation owed its origin to Him alone. He also delivered them from Egyptian bondage. It was not possible for them to have originated themselves, their nation, or their deliverance. The sanctification of them to God alone, therefore, was righteous, and honoring to the Lord. It was also profitable for them.

Upon the death of king Saul God directed Samuel to cease mourning for Saul, and prepare to anoint David king, whom He had chosen for Himself. "And he (Samuel) said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice" (1 Sam 16:5). God is holy. It is imperative that those approaching Him divest themselves of distracting influences. This thought was introduced in the ancient sanctification of people; like Jesse and his sons. They were readied for the sacrifice by increasing their awareness of the Lord, and decreasing their awareness of surrounding things.

Jeremiah sanctified

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations" (Jer 1:5). What a remarkable statement! In Jeremiah we find a fresh aspect of sanctification. God Himself sanctified the prophet. In the beginning, He sanctified a day--not a person! Later, there was a point in time when He called upon people to sanctify themselves. Here, Jeremiah himself was set apart for God and BY God. He was God's prophet. As such, he did not become involved in things unrelated to the Lord. He was chosen to go where God sent him, and say what the Lord told him. He belonged to God!

PRAYER POINT: Father, knowing that You sanctify people, setting them apart for Yourself, I find great delight in considering myself being sanctified unto You. I pray You will help me to see the possibilities of this sanctification.

-- TOMORROW: WHY PEOPLE TWIST SCRIPTURE --