Wisdom's Corner
Jehovah M'KaddeshWhen two people get married, they make a promise that they will be only for each other for the rest of their lives. They promise that they will love and honor each other for the rest of their lives. They promise each other that no matter what happens to them, no matter how difficult life may get, they will stay together. In the United States, the husband and wife give each other a wedding ring to wear on their finger. This ring represents this promise.
When someone makes such a promise and sets themselves apart for only someone else it means to be sanctified. Sanctified is setting something apart for service. The man and woman promise to serve each other. In religion, being sanctified means being set apart for worship.
In Leviticus 20:7-8, we read, "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you." The last words of verse eight are from the Hebrew words Jehovah M'Kaddesh. These words mean Jehovah sanctifies.
When we decide to promise our lives to God and to obey His commandments, we are sanctifying ourselves to God. And when we do this He sanctifies us. We are His special people when we love Him and obey Him.
In John 17:17-19 we read part of Christ's prayer to His Father. He says that God sanctifies us through His word, which is the Bible. When we obey His word, which is truth, we are demonstrating our willingness to be set apart as His servants. And has promised that when we obey Him He sets us apart and our name is written in the book of life.
Make sure you sanctify your life for God. Make sure that God will sanctify you with His word. Keep reading your Bible. Learn what God wants you to do.
Until next time, keep studying. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Mark McWhorter
Copyright 1999
Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)