“JEHOVAH MEKKADISHKEM”
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I AM THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU” i.e. “Jehovah Mekkadishkem” in Hebrew language (Ex.31: 13). According to God’s commandment, the children of Israel should keep the Sabbath for it was holy to them. Accordingly, they should work for six days but the seventh was the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever did any work on this day, he should surely be put to death. (Ex.31: 13-17).For the children of Israel, Sabbath was a special day of holiness on which they were not supposed to work. For the Christians, we have to observe Sabbath in our daily life. It is not a holy day but a holy life to be lived minute by minute with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We, the spiritual children of Abraham, are different from the children of Israel in flesh. As you live a life completely dependent on Christ, trusting His power to deliver you from the sin through His grace, He sanctifies you. On your own strength, you cannot lead a holy life. Daily you should go to His Cross for sanctification. You should confess, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2: 20). Allowing Christ to live in our crucified flesh is sanctification under the New Testament. The Cross of our Lord Jesus is a sign between God and us so that we know that IT IS THE INDWELLING CHRIST WHO SANCTIFIES US THROUGH HIS BLOOD (Heb.2: 11 & 9:14).
The children of Israel could not lead a victorious life. But we can lead a victorious life because we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus (Rom.8: 37). Under the New Covenant, God gives us His abundant grace to overcome sin through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17).
“JEHOVAH MEKKADISHKEM” has revealed to us through Christ Jesus Who sanctifies us. Are you not able to lead an overcoming life today? Allow Christ to live in your crucified flesh. Surrender your life completely to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
by Job Anbalagan