Consecration involves 3 stages, according to Eph 4:22-24:
- Putting off the old self
- Being made new in the attitude of your minds
- Putting on the new self
Saying No
We have to learn to say no to the old way of life and to the pull of our old sinful nature. (Titus 2:12) This is a daily battle, hence our prayer ‘lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ (Matt 6:13)
Having New Attitudes
God’s Spirit within us transforms the attitude of our minds (Rom 12:1-2). This second stage involves learning to lean on God for everything and to see things through His eyes, to understand the dual nature of His work in us and our cooperation with Him (see Phil 2:12-13) and to understand also that sanctification is a process (see Heb 10:14). Being made new in the attitude of our minds means that we come to see ourselves, other people and the world as God sees them, accepting His authority and rule over all.
Putting On The New Self
God has given us robes of righteousness and garments of salvation to wear, as well as spiritual armour to put on (Eph 6:10-16). The third stage, putting on the new self, is where we do more than mentally assent to what we read in the Bible. It’s when we not only hear God, but obey Him. We don’t merely listen to the word, but we do what it says. (James 1:22) Ultimately, the call to consecration means we are putting God first in our lives, before anything else and anyone else, and this is a vital spiritual principle. If we don’t put God first and offer ourselves to Him as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1), we will end up trying to do God’s work in our own strength and will end up flat on our faces. 2 Cor 6:14-15 and 2 Tim 2:20-21 remind us that there has to be a difference between God’s people and the rest of the world. We must offer ourselves daily to God to be used in His service.
Mother Teresa said, ‘holiness consists in accepting and following the will of God. Holiness and obedience are inextricably intertwined. As we obey God, He will purify us, sanctify us and make us holy, for ‘holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.’ (Thérèse of Lisieux) Holy people will see God do amazing things and will be involved in those amazing things, for His glory and fame.
