SANCTIFY YOURSELVES AND THE HOUSE
2 Chronicles 29:5: And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
King Hezekiah had such reverence for God that he commanded the priests to make themselves presentable in reverence toward God, to reverence the Lord’s house as holy and to carry forth everything that was disrespectful out of that holy place. If we truly sanctify the Lord God in our hearts with the highest reverence, then like Hezekiah, we should also sanctify the house of the LORD each time we come together to worship our Redeemer. (1 Pet 3: 15) We must never disrespect our Redeemer or his house by regarding this time as common. It is separated by God as time to honor and glorify him! God gave his very best to clothe us in the wedding garment of Christ our Righteousness. The least we can do is come before him with our best. Remember, where Christ gathers us, it is the house of the LORD God and where the King of glory gathers his sheep, our Prince promises to be here in our very midst! How would we show up if we had an appointment with an earthly leader who had our heart’s highest respect? When Israel gave second-rate offerings, God said, “Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? Saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 1: 8) Then each, and every time, that we gather in the Lord’s house to hear how he made us accepted by giving his only begotten Son, we ought to show a thousand times more reverence to the ever-present Son of God who suffered the fire of justice that we might freely enjoy this great privilege!