Consecrated by Christ
Through self-consecration, we can overcome temptation, live nearer to God, and be of help to others.
Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of consecrating oneself to God for the benefit of others, drawing inspiration from John 17:19. She highlights the need to confront temptations, despondency, restlessness, and ambition with unwavering vigilance and commitment to self-consecration. Tileston warns against allowing even a single sin to hinder the work of God through us, stressing the necessity of purity and cleansing of the heart to radiate God's light and truth to others. Ultimately, she encourages a deep surrender to Christ for His transformative power to shine through our imperfections, revealing His brightness and peace to those around us.
Text
For their sakes I consecrate Myself,
JOHN 17:19 (R. V. MARGIN)
THE thought may help us in regard to all the temptations of our life, even the most hidden and solitary. It may help us to do battle with our despondency and sadness, with our restlessness and resentment, with the perverting and corrupting misery of ambition. We must be watchful and uncompromising, if the self-consecration is to do its work. One sin alone indulged, condoned, domesticated, may spoil it all; may cripple all our hope of helpfulness; may baffle the willingness of God to use us in His work for others. "For their sakes I consecrate myself." This, then, is our constant hope, that God will so cleanse and purify our hearts that they may not hinder the transmission to others of that light and truth which issue from His Presence. For that hope we would cast out all that defiles and darkens us; we would freely give ourselves to Christ, that He may enter in and rule and animate us; so that, through all our unworthiness, something of His brightness and peace may be made known to men.
FRANCIS PAGET
DID I but live nearer to God, I could be of so much more help.
GEORGE HODGES
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Self-Consecration
- The Dangers of Indulging in Sin
- The Hope of God's Purification
- Living Nearer to God
- The relationship between living near to God and being of help to others
- The importance of casting out defilement and darkness
Key Quotes
“For their sakes I consecrate myself.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“DID I but live nearer to God, I could be of so much more help.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“For that hope we would cast out all that defiles and darkens us;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We must be watchful and uncompromising in our pursuit of self-consecration.
- Casting out defilement and darkness is essential for living nearer to God and being of help to others.
- Indulging in sin can cripple our hope of helpfulness and baffle God's willingness to use us in His work for others.