EXODUS 19:10-11

Exodus 19:10-11 says “And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”

When God went down to visit the Israelites in the desert, He told Moses to have the people prepare for His visit. God instructed them to consecrate themselves and wash before He came. God wanted the people to be prepared for a visit with the Holy One.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, God wants us to prepare appropriately for meeting Him. This is not a casual meeting, but a holy encounter. He wants us to be consecrated; set aside and made ready for being in His presence. Consecration is a way to prepare spiritually for the holy encounter. It is abstaining from any indulgence that might take our heart and mind away from God. We must get ourselves physically and spiritually ready to meet Him. We are to set ourselves away from sin and ordinary daily routine in order to dedicate ourselves to meet God. We must set aside the cares and preoccupations of everyday life.

The washing of the clothes was an act of purification and reverence. Just as we make sure we have a bath, wash our hair and put on our “Sunday best” to come to church, God asked the people of Israel and all Christians to clean up before coming into His presence. God wants us to be holy -separated and pure and be like Him. 1 Peter 1:16 says “Be ye holy; for I Am holy”. What “dirt” of the world do you need to wash away or leave behind so you can come before God with a humble and open heart?

Beloved, we need to give ourselves completely to God like the Israelites did, consecrate ourselves and devote ourselves totally to Him. This is the only way we can respond to God’s total and complete unconditional love for us.

PRAYER POINT: My Father and my Lord, please give me the grace to have a divine encounter with you.