Devotion for October 2, 2008

Sanctify Yourselves

Joshua 3

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.’” (Joshua 3:5 NKJV)

God was about to do wonderful, miraculous things for the people of Israel. Tomorrow they would cross the Jordan on dry land. The waters would be stopped as the Ark of the Covenant stood in the middle of Jordan’s dried-up riverbed.

Therefore, Joshua tells the people to sanctify themselves. The word means to set apart or to consecrate. Joshua wanted the people to rid themselves of any sinful thoughts. He wanted them to search their motives, and cleanse themselves of anything profane.

Here we see the wisdom of Joshua. Even though God had declared the day of crossing, Joshua realized that sin in the camp could stay the Lord’s hand. Yes God is sovereign, but He also is sovereign over means as He works His will, and He will not bless a sinful people. This will become clear enough in later passages when Israel attacks Ai and suffers defeat.

The same is true for you my friend. Allow sin to remain unchecked and un-confessed and you will see the chastening hand of God. Sanctify yourself if you want to see blessings. Sanctify yourself if you want to have peace of mind and soul. Sanctify yourself if you want to see the Lord.

Yes you must “Pursue peace with all [people], and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV). The Christian life is not a one-time event, but a life-long pursuit of holiness. Hunger and thirst for righteousness, and should you find you are wanting in this area, pray for divine intervention while you open the Word that it might expose your sin.

“. . . He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [in it], and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25 NKJV) Sanctify yourself today lest the Lord deals with you and you suffer hardship.