Year of the Bible: Part Three of Twelve Àpẹrẹ

Holy, Unto the Lord.

"And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the Tabernacle pattern, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it." (Exodus 25:8-9)

In Exodus 40, You read that Moses did everything God commanded him to do as they dedicated the Tabernacle. They anointed and consecrated the space and the people who were to be serving in the holy area where God would dwell "among His people." A place where heaven touched earth!

God so strongly desired nearness with His people. He taught them a forgotten pattern, where He would come near, and they could come close to Him. Remember how it was in Eden? Everything needed to be set apart or made "holy" to accommodate God's desire to walk with his people.

The word consecrate, or qāḏaš in Hebrew means to Be holy, dedicate wholly, prepare, and set apart as sacred. This word is related to the word holy, or qōḏeš, in Hebrew, which means to be set apart, and can be translated to say "unique" or "used for a unique or sacred purpose."

God's commanded Moses to set apart [for special use only] all the things used in the Tabernacle so He could be in their midst. However, the author of Hebrews says no sacrifice before Jesus was able to take sin away.

The good news is that God has made a permanent way for you to draw near to God, having been made holy [set apart] for God not by your deeds or rituals but through the sacrifice Jesus made for you.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to you, saying,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: 'I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind, I will write them,' He then says, 'and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin... let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:16-17,23)

Question: Do you see yourself as holy and uniquely set aside for God? Do you realize you are where heaven touches earth?

A Prayer to Pray: Jesus, Thank you for making me holy, for making way for heaven to be opened, and for our Father and me to walk together. I ask, please show me the reality of your forgiveness. Show me again that you relate to me not based on my failures but by referencing the perfect work of Jesus. Give me the confidence to enter into the reality of heaven, your presence with me and in me, and may others see you through my life. I want to walk and dwell with you! In Jesus' name, Amen!