ANOINTED, CONSECRATED AND SANCTIFIED
Scripture Reading: Exodus 28:31-43
So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests. - Exodus 28:41
Aaron and his sons were marked out for the Lord's service as priests. They were to be anointed, consecrated and sanctified for the Lord's service. To ANOINT is "to ceremonially confer divine or holy office on someone by smearing or rubbing them with oil." To CONSECRATE is "to make or declare something as sacred and dedicated to a religious or divine purpose." To SANCTIFY is "to set something apart for holy use or to declare as pure and free from sin."
All three words confirm that in order to walk with the Lord or minister before Him, we must separate or set ourselves apart from sin and purify our vessels for His holy use. It is not an option. It is a divine requirement. 1 Peter 2:9 reminds us that we are priests before the Lord. It says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 makes the scriptural standard very clear. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God." May your ears be open to God's call to royal priesthood, and may you be anointed, consecrated and sanctified for His service.
Prayer: Lord, I yield my body, soul and spirit to You. Set me apart for Your service.
