Monday, July 1

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Joshua 3:1-8

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. ² After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits (3000 feet) between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

⁵ Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

⁶ Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

⁷ And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. ⁸ Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you”

Our theme this summer is GO…but before the Israelites actually did the GOING they were obedient with regards to PREPARATION.  They consecrated themselves!

Consecrate -- To declare or set apart as sacred

Please pause…really…and think about what one would actually “do” if one was to consecrate oneself today…in the western suburbs in July 2013.  Would you have to start  “doing” something?  Or stop doing something?  Would you need to remove obstackles in your life – people, hobbies, addictions, you know where I am going here.

Care enough RIGHT NOW to go public and declare to ANOTHER how you will consecrate yourself today…this week.  Stop reading ten minutes with God and make the phone call or write the email or text and implement accountability regarding your personal consecration.

Following the Israelites obedience…God promises amazing kingdom impact and influence when we make ourselves fully set apart for his Great Purposes.

Bruce McEvoy

Pastor of Family and Serving