Numbers 8-10

In serving and worshipping the LORD there is no room for half-heartedness or lukewarmness as Jesus admonished the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter 3. With whatever my hand finds to do I choose to do it with all my might, out of conviction for righteousness through living consecrated to a holy God deserving of all glory, honor and praise. There is something significant about complete total unreserved dedication and commitment to God, equally important is the willingness of our heart to fully yield, surrender, and submit obediently to the authority of the Father giving everything within our being for His glory. For the Israelites the people of the tribe of Levi were to be a consecrated people dedicated to the LORD as a priesthood in the service of worship as commanded by the LORD. 

Numbers 8:16 (NIV) "They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me."

I am reminded of a sweet time during my early adult years when I sensed a calling to set apart a year of my life to dedicate to the LORD. Right after graduating high school I did a one-year program with New Song Nashville called Global Boot Camp (GBC) which was the most formative spiritual preparation in my life before embarking on an academic journey which leads to where I am today. During GBC there were systematic theology classes, readings, guided scripture study, times of worship, prayer, missions conferences, helps ministry in the city, and Spanish classes as we prepared for a 3 month missions trip to Escuinapa, Mexico with a church-affiliate ministry couple. While in Mexico we listened to a lot of Hillsong Español and one of the songs that I remember often to this day is 'Con Todo' which means 'with everything.' 

As I meditate on this scripture in Numbers 8:16 about the Levites who were called by God to be separate, consecrated, dedicated, holy unto the LORD, I can't help but be reminded that as Christians we are all called to separate from the world from the culture, to be separate giving everything - willingly giving everything for the king and the kingdom. With everything I give I live for the glory of God, being wholly given unto the LORD means that those areas requiring purification will be consumed by the holy fire of God, as we repent and humbly approach the throne of the LORD Almighty. 

II Corinthians 7:1 (NIV) "Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

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