Consecration: A Time for Study & Growth

Consecration: A Time for Study & Growth

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
-2 Peter 3:18

“I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.”
– Psalm 119:15&16

When we speak of consecration, we typically think about prayer, worship, and reflecting on how we can modify our behavior to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ. While these characterizations are true, consecration, I suggest, is also about study and growth in God’s Word. Consecration means to give ourselves completely to God (mind, body, soul, and spirit). One way is to give ourselves completely is in study and prayer.

Spending time studying God’s word is essential for spiritual growth and development. This is why the Bible says our faith grows by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). It is when we spend time in the word that we learn more about God’s abilities and God’s desires for our lives.

Studying God’s word should be a delightful task for us as believers. We gain joy, strength, and peace by learning God’s precepts. The Bible says that a wise person takes delight in the law of the LORD, And in God’s law she/he meditates day and night (Ps 1:2). A wise person understands that true wisdom comes from God, and what we need to be successful in life and mature in faith is contained within God’s word! So, consecration is a time to grow by studying God’s word.

A Time To Grow…..

2 Peter 3:18 admonishes us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The word grow in this verse can be translated as “I cause to increase and become greater.” Notice it says I cause. This is interesting because Peter is teaching us that growth is our responsibility. We have to take the initiative! It is something to which we must aspire though faith and discipline. Throughout consecration we are to seek God’s guidance and help for all areas of our lives. We should always wait for God’s instructions and guidance for our lives- what we should do, where we should be, and how we should serve. When it comes to spiritual growth, however, it begins with us! God is waiting for us to desire growth, and take the first steps. This takes maturity of faith. Recall the definition of grow includes “to become greater.” We are to become greater in the faith. This means we must become more spiritually mature.

Consecration is the perfect time to begin a growth journey! And this is what it is, a journey. Growth takes time. It is a process that takes a lifetime. Instant growth is not what God expects from us, and we should not expect it either. There are several principles to consider for a growth journey:

DO NOT BE AFRAID OF GROWTH- GOD’s GOT YOU! You are not on the journey alone. God is with you every step of the way.
Remember each person has her/his own journey, so do not compare your growth with someone else’s growth. Focus on YOUR relationship with God.
God is not looking for perfection, just faithfulness.
A growth journey is a life journey. So, live the life God wants for you, and ENJOY IT to the full!
Growth takes Study! You cannot grow in grace without growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

A Time for Study…..

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone that you did not desire to know more about? Or did not take time to learn their habits, things they like, and the things that make them happy? If we are honest, we can admit that when we did not do these things that relationship probably did not last very long. It’s similar when it comes to God. How can we have relationship with God when we do not know God?

As children of God, we should want to know what pleases God, what makes God happy, and become more familiar with God’s character and abilities! Our fulfillment in life should flow from our service and pleasing God. Psalm 119:15 &16 says, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.” We should take delight in studying God’s words. The word “delight” in Psalm 119:16 means to stare or to gaze. During our time of consecration let’s stare, i.e., let’s be preoccupied with God’s word!

Studying God’s word is a serious task that leads to spiritual growth. Here are a few guiding principles for studying God’s word:

Prayer and study go hand and hand
Consider choosing one book of the Bible to study for the month of Consecration- Whichever you feel led by the Spirit to study
Effective Study Requires Effective Tools– Get a Study Bible if possible
As you learn, contemplate how you can mirror God’s principles in your day-to-day lifestyle

Elder Nathaniel Holmes