Everything Is Sacred
"If only I wasn’t bogged down with all these children," you sigh. "I would love to serve God, but these children take up all my time!" Mother, can I let you in on a secret? Read on and I will share with you…
In the Old Testament holiness was equated with the High Priest and the Holy of Holies. God Himself dwelt in the Holy of Holies. It was so holy that the High Priest only entered once a year. When Jesus shed his precious blood on the cross, the thick veil that protected the Holy of Holies was torn apart. Today we can enter with boldness into the presence of God. How amazing. And yet at what price! We were purchased not just with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Son of God – the highest price that was ever paid for anything in this world and it was paid for you and me!
If you have asked Jesus Christ to come into your life, not only can you enter into the Holy of Holies with your requests, but the Holy Spirit of God indwells you. Because the Holy Spirit indwells us, wherever you are or whatever you are doing can be hallowed! The only time a moment is not sacred is when you walk in disobedience or do something that grieves the Holy Spirit who lives within you.
There is an interesting scripture in Zechariah 14:20-21. "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts…"
I love THE LIVING BIBLE translation. "In that day the bells on the horses will have written on them, "THESE ARE HOLY PROPERTY", and the trash cans in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred at the bowls beside the altar. In fact, every container in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the Lord of Hosts…" This is literally going to take place in Jerusalem. However, it is also a picture of how God wants to be part of our daily lives. Holiness is no longer related to the temple as in the Old Testament. We are now the temples of the Holy Spirit.
It is wonderful how this Scripture brings it right down to our every day lives – the pots and pans we use in our kitchen! Are you concerned that you should be doing more things for the Lord? Dear mother, you are already fulfilling a holy vocation! When you nurse your baby, it can be a sacred moment. When you change diapers, it can be a sacred moment. When you wash stacks of dirty dishes, it can be a holy moment. It can be just as sacred as a minister preaching from the pulpit.
I hear so many women relegate preparing and cooking meals to insignificant work that is totally unspiritual. They would rather spend their time doing so-called more important things. But cooking a meal can be a sacred task. God wants you to know that every pot and pan in your home can be holy property. Preparing the meal is sacred because the Holy Spirit is within you as you do it.
As we get a revelation of this truth, it will change our lives. We can embrace mothering and home making in a new light! The understanding of this truth
changes the mundane into miracles
makes dull duties a delight
the boring becomes beautiful
frazzled nerves are set free
trials become triumphs!
God has given us power to live life, not only for spiritual things, but for DAILY LIFE. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto LIFE and godliness." Not just for godliness, but for LIFE! Over and over again, God says to us, "Fear not, I am with thee." He makes every moment hallowed because He is with us! Acknowledge God’s presence with you throughout the day. Thank Him for being with you. Thank Him for His patience and longsuffering that He is working in you. Thank Him that He is watching over the walls of your home. Isaiah 49:16.
Dr. Eugene Diamond says, "All human activities are trivial or significant, comic or vastly important, depending on whether they are done for purely human motives or lifted up to a supernatural fidelity." God’s Word tells us that we are to do everything in the name of Jesus and to the glory of God. Colossians 3:17, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." This means every menial task and every mundane thing we have to do each day.
I have a testimony regarding this truth. When I was 18 years old, God touched my life and I dedicated my life to His service. I disciplined my life to spend three hours a day waiting on the Lord. I would set the alarm for 5.00 a.m. each morning. Because it was hard to get out of my warm bed on cold mornings as we didn’t have central heating in New Zealand, I would set another alarm for about 15 minutes later. I would put this alarm out in the next room, or even under my bed, so that if I was tempted to stay in bed after the first alarm, I would have to get out of bed again. By this time I would be awake. These were blessed and wonderful times with the Lord, in prayer and in the Word, learning the ways of God.
Then I got married! Then I had children! I had three children in 17 months! (I cheated and had twins!) I no longer had three hours to wait on God each day! I was in a state. What would I do? How could I continue to be a true Christian if I didn’t have time to spend with God? I thought my walk with God had finished! Gradually, I understood that my walk with God didn’t depend on spending hours away on my own with God, but that every moment could be a sacred moment. God was with me all through the day, when I was feeding the baby in the night, when I was doing the washing, when I was preparing the meals, when I was changing dirty diapers, when I was sorting out squabbles! Yes, God was in the midst of my day, even when everything was going wrong and the children were all crying at once. Even that could be a hallowed moment!
Of course, there is balance in everything. I do believe that as we are able, we should seek to put aside time every day to give to the Lord and spend in prayer and reading His precious Word. Sometimes this is impossible when you have a new baby. But you can still live a holy and sacred life as you acknowledge that God is with you in every situation in your home.
I love the lines of the old hymn….
So shall no part of day or night
From sacredness be free;
But all my life, in every step,
Be fellowship with Thee.