Separate The Precious, Pt. 1 - No. 02

Jeremiah 15:19, "…If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth."

God wants us to separate the things that are precious in His sight from the things that are worthless and vile. God does not live in a gray area and He doesn’t want us to either. He doesn’t want our minds to be clouded and dulled by the thinking of this world so that we can no longer discern the difference between what is precious and what is vile. God cannot stand lukewarmness. He would rather we were hot or cold. I’m sure you remember that it says in Revelation 3:16 that if we are "lukewarm" He will "spew us out of His mouth."

In Ezekiel 44:23 God tells his priests to "teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." Read also Leviticus 10:10 and Ezekiel 22:26.

Sometimes the precious things of God get submerged under the busyness of our hectic lives. They get clouded and jaded because the deceptions and mindset of this world overpower us. They get forgotten in the maze of everything else that clamors for our attention.

How would you like to do some digging for the precious things? Let’s see if we can dig them out from all the worthless junk that has crowded our lives. Once you’ve dug them out again, keep them separate. Make them preeminent. Don’t let them get lost again under the big junk pile of worthless and unnecessary garbage that fills our lives.

What are the precious things of God? Everything that is pure and holy. All that is good and wholesome. All the beautiful things that are mentioned in Philippians 4:18 - the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.

However, there are a number of things that God specifically states are precious to Him. Let’s look at some of these, shall we?

JESUS

Isaiah 28:16, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation…" 1 Peter 2:4,7; Colossians 1:15-19.

Is Jesus the most precious of all to you? Is He the corner stone on which everything else in your life is built? Does everything in your life pivot from Him? Have you separated Jesus to be the preeminent one, above everything else in your life?

Whisper His name all day long. Speak His name out loud frequently. Lift up the name of Jesus in your home. You only exist because of Him.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS

1 Peter 1:18,19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The blood of Jesus is very precious. Without the blood of Jesus we would still be under the guilt of sin. Without the blood of Jesus we could not enter into the presence of the Lord. Without the blood of Jesus we would still be alienated from the kingdom of God.

Thank God every day for the blood of Jesus that was shed for your sins. Honor the blood of Jesus. Plead the protection of the blood of Jesus over your family and over your home. Don’t lose sight of its preciousness.

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THE WORD OF GOD

2 Peter 1:4, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…"

How precious are God’s promises to you? How much time do you take out of each day to read and meditate on them? Are they more precious to you than life? Job says in Job 23:12, "I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." Dear mother, I know that you don’t have a lot of time to read the Word of God when you have all your little lambs around you.

However, even though you don’t have time to have long sessions reading the Word, it is amazing what you can receive here and there throughout the day. Place the Bible on your windowsill above your kitchen sink and open it to the Psalms or Proverbs. Every now and then you can look up and read a Scripture and meditate upon it as you wash the dishes and cook.

Place an open Bible on the table. You can often read a verse as you pass by or sit for a few minutes. Read a few verses when you nurse your baby. Keep a Bible in the bathroom. I have often received wonderful promises from the Lord in these moments.

One older mother shared with me what she used to do when her children were little. "Some mornings I would get up I would have so much work to do and I would wonder where to start. Many times the Lord would speak to me and say, ‘Now, Mother, just clean off the table and make it look really neat and pretty. Lay a little cloth in the center of the table. Find a scripture in the Bible and lay the Bible open on the cloth. Light a candle and put it beside the Bible, as a symbol that the Word is a light unto your feet. As you fix your breakfast speak sweetly to the children and refer often to the little candle and the open Bible. Sing sweet songs of joy and as you run by the table, glance often at the promises you have marked in your Bible.’ This simple act of faith often organized my day."

Of course, don’t forget your Family Devotions together as a family. As you faithfully do this in your home each day, your children will also realize the importance and preciousness of God’s Word.

THE TRIAL OF FAITH

1 Peter 1:7, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Read also 2 Peter 1:1.

Dear mother, don’t be discouraged when your faith is being tested. This is a necessary part of your walk with the Lord. Faith must go through the fire to test if it is real and lasting. We will all have our faith tested at certain times. Often these times seem so hard – and so long. But remember, if we allow God to work in us, refine us, and mold us more into the image of Jesus during these times, without resisting and rebelling, we will receive great reward in the eternal kingdom. And it will be very precious to God’s heart. Read also 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

In the next two weeks we will look at more issues that are very precious to God.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Lord Jesus, I want you to be preeminent in my life. I want you to be uppermost in all my thoughts. I want to say your name over and over again. Lord Jesus, please help me to truly discern between what is holy and what is worthless. Save me from becoming jaded by the thinking patterns of this world. Amen."

QUOTE:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."