Be Holy, For I Am Holy
Reading: Leviticus 11 - 15
My Verse: "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD who brought up up out of the land of Egypt to by your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (11:44,45).
This is really rather fascinating. So many rules about eating, personal cleaniliness and behavior. You, LORD God were calling the Israelites out of Egypt into a land filled with a people that denied You and lived lives that were unholy and sinful. You wanted the Israelites to be Your special and separate people. For them to be this special, holy people they needed to be set apart. The ESV study notes states that these rituals and distinctions between animals that were clean or unclean helped the Israelites to realize this apartness. It helped to remind them that they served a holy God and needed to practice being holy themselves.
While these practices are no longer in effect because You, LORD Jesus abolished all that with Your new covenant with us, this command to be holy has not been abolished. (Col. 2:16-23) Peter points out in the New Testament that I, as a Christian, need to be holy in my walk with You, LORD God.
"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at this coming. as obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (I Peter 1:12-16NIV).
I had to look up the word 'consecrate.' According to dictionary.com it means - to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity. So I am to dedicate myself to You, LORD God. It does seem a bit daunting until I realize that this is something I cannot do on my own. I must first submit to You and then You will help me to be dedicated to You. Philippians 4:13 states this so clearly! "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
This brings to mind one of my Mother's favorite songs. "Without Him I Can Do Nothing."
This also brings to mind A.W. Tozer's teaching on how before we can be holy or even understand holiness we need to first think rightly about You, LORD God! He said. "It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate." Our Sunday school teacher has been bringing up an interesting thought. It is that we need to be careful to differentiate between ideas and practices that are our own traditions rather than Your teaching LORD God! This is saying much the same thing as Tozer - help me LORD God to differentiate between Your teaching and my own erroneous ideas.
So yes, help me to be holy LORD Jesus in all that I do!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Reading: Leviticus 11 - 15
My Verse: "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the LORD who brought up up out of the land of Egypt to by your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (11:44,45).
This is really rather fascinating. So many rules about eating, personal cleaniliness and behavior. You, LORD God were calling the Israelites out of Egypt into a land filled with a people that denied You and lived lives that were unholy and sinful. You wanted the Israelites to be Your special and separate people. For them to be this special, holy people they needed to be set apart. The ESV study notes states that these rituals and distinctions between animals that were clean or unclean helped the Israelites to realize this apartness. It helped to remind them that they served a holy God and needed to practice being holy themselves.
While these practices are no longer in effect because You, LORD Jesus abolished all that with Your new covenant with us, this command to be holy has not been abolished. (Col. 2:16-23) Peter points out in the New Testament that I, as a Christian, need to be holy in my walk with You, LORD God.
"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at this coming. as obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (I Peter 1:12-16NIV).
I had to look up the word 'consecrate.' According to dictionary.com it means - to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity. So I am to dedicate myself to You, LORD God. It does seem a bit daunting until I realize that this is something I cannot do on my own. I must first submit to You and then You will help me to be dedicated to You. Philippians 4:13 states this so clearly! "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."
This brings to mind one of my Mother's favorite songs. "Without Him I Can Do Nothing."
This also brings to mind A.W. Tozer's teaching on how before we can be holy or even understand holiness we need to first think rightly about You, LORD God! He said. "It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and our inward attitudes right while our idea of God is erroneous or inadequate." Our Sunday school teacher has been bringing up an interesting thought. It is that we need to be careful to differentiate between ideas and practices that are our own traditions rather than Your teaching LORD God! This is saying much the same thing as Tozer - help me LORD God to differentiate between Your teaching and my own erroneous ideas.
So yes, help me to be holy LORD Jesus in all that I do!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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