Sanctify Yourselves

I can’t get away from the words of Joshua 3:5 and their implications for us today. The children of Israel were on the banks of the Jordan River. They are about to enter into a new phase of life. The life of slavery; the life of wandering in the wilderness; was about to give way to a brand new way of life. As they are on the brink of this significant transition, Joshua tells them: “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5) Wow!

What would happen if we approached Sunday with the same thought? What would happen if we began to examine our hearts, our actions, and our motives as we prepared for worship on Sunday? Would we see God do wonders among us if we truly sanctified ourselves in preparation for worshipping Him? If I really wanted to see God do “wonders” around me wouldn’t it be worth my time and effort to “sanctify” myself in preparation for that? I believe time spent preparing our heart and soul for Sunday would be well worth the effort in order to see God do wonders in our midst.

So, take some time today and tomorrow to “sanctify yourself.”

How?

Here are some verses God can use to prepare you and I for a great day of worship. These verses can be used to prepare our hearts so we are ready to hear and receive the message God has just for us.

Read these verses and then make them into a prayer.

Psalm 34:18 (ESV) ¹⁸  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 66:18 (ESV)
¹⁸  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
²³  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
²⁴  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Matthew 5:23-24 (ESV)
²³  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
²⁴  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)
²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
²⁴  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
⁹  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

On Sunday, I will be preaching from 1Peter 1:1-3. Take some time to read those verses and ask God to prepare your heart for His message, as revealed in these verses.

I am anticipating God doing WONDERS in our midst as we sanctify ourselves to Him,

Pastor Mike