A Consecrated Home

Last week I began a phrase by phrase examination of a quote by Jonathan Edwards concerning the Christian family. This week I want to look at the second phrase in the paragraph.

“Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by His rules. And family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove ineffectual. If these are duly maintained, all the means of grace will be likely to prosper and be successful.”

According to Webster’s, the word consecrated, used in the context of this phrase, means “to make or declare sacred; to devote irrevocably to the worship of God by a solemn ceremony.” To consecrate something means to dedicate it to God for His glory and for His purposes. In the Old Testament we can read about consecration ceremonies taking place in which people, animals, buildings, and material possessions are declared sacred and set apart for God’s use.

In Exodus 13, the firstborn children and animals of Israel are consecrated to the Lord at Passover. In Exodus 29, Aaron and his sons are consecrated to the Lord to serve Him as priests in the tabernacle. In Joshua chapter 6, the silver, gold, and bronze taken from fallen Jericho were consecrated to the Lord for “His treasury.” The act of consecration is a solemn and serious undertaking. It signifies a person’s acknowledgement of God’s rightful ownership of and sovereign headship over a person or object under their care.

With this in mind, what about your home? Is your home a sacred place dedicated to Christ and His service? Do you desire Him to be the sovereign Lord of your home and do you want it to be set apart for His glory? Whether you are a single adult living alone or a mom and dad with multiple children, you can plan and conduct a private consecration service for your home.

It may look something like this; Have your family gather together in a central location of your home for the reading of Scripture and for prayer. You may want to use Matthew 7:21-27, 1 Chronicles 29:10-14, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, or Ephesians 5:22-6:4 as possible Scripture readings.

Your prayer time can consist of praying for the physical and spiritual protection of your home and family; the dedication of yourself and your family members to fulfill the roles and responsibilities God has given through His word; the acknowledgement that He is the owner and ruler of all your possessions and the foundation of all healthy family relationships; and that in your home you desire Christ to be exalted and the Holy Spirit free to control and guide the life of each family member. You can commemorate this event by purchasing a framed Bible verse, picture, plaque, or figurine and placing it in a prominent area of your home.

Having a private time of consecration is only the beginning. Daily our lives and homes must be surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. Through His direction and enablement, our homes may not become problem free but, they can become bastions of God’s grace and mercy. They can become channels through which Christ receives the glory and honor due His name.

David