Good Morning Friends
Since Friday we have gone from learning how to treat contaminated houses to prohibitions against what is edible, to forbidden practices and personal conduct. Today we enter into punishments for said prohibitions and practices as well as priestly instructions. Again, thank you God for sending your Son.
Among the punishments, priestly instructions, and offerings I read the word holy seven times. Did you hear the message? I heard it loud and clear. I am to be holy because He is holy. He is the one who makes me holy. So how does He make me holy? Through the power of the Holy Spirit in me. And the Holy Spirit must have my cooperation.
I alone do not have the ability to be holy but I alone have to submit to the Lord's direction to become holy. The directions were given in verse 20:7:
Set yourselves apart means to consecrate, to sanctify. Sanctification is a big theological word that some might use to sound scholarly or religious. Some make think because of the weightiness of the word that it is possible to obtain. Sanctification is not a new idea however it is simple in its meaning. The word means to set apart as sacred, to purify, to be free sin.
Did you notice the word "all?" Everything we need He has already provided. Isn't that cool? He wants us to be holy and set apart. He asks us to do to this and also provides the means in which we need to obey Him. Can I get a hallelujah? What He has called us to do, He has equipped us to do. There is no other God like Jehovah!
Among the punishments, priestly instructions, and offerings I read the word holy seven times. Did you hear the message? I heard it loud and clear. I am to be holy because He is holy. He is the one who makes me holy. So how does He make me holy? Through the power of the Holy Spirit in me. And the Holy Spirit must have my cooperation.
I alone do not have the ability to be holy but I alone have to submit to the Lord's direction to become holy. The directions were given in verse 20:7:
So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God.
Set yourselves apart means to consecrate, to sanctify. Sanctification is a big theological word that some might use to sound scholarly or religious. Some make think because of the weightiness of the word that it is possible to obtain. Sanctification is not a new idea however it is simple in its meaning. The word means to set apart as sacred, to purify, to be free sin.
Set myself apart means to spend time praying, examining my life, and determining what if anything I am doing that could cause a separation between the me and the Lord. The following questions give us a great place to start our self-examination.
- What am I watching?
- What am I reading?
- What am I listening to?
- Who am I listening to?
- Who am I spending time with?
- What are my conversations like?
- Where do I spend my time?
- How do I spend my money?
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
Did you notice the word "all?" Everything we need He has already provided. Isn't that cool? He wants us to be holy and set apart. He asks us to do to this and also provides the means in which we need to obey Him. Can I get a hallelujah? What He has called us to do, He has equipped us to do. There is no other God like Jehovah!
9 Comments:
I learned yesterday that only 9% of the population hold a Biblical View, meaning most of the world today does not let The Word of God set the agenda for their lives. Barna Research Group, did this study.
The root of today's problem is SELF. Daily, staying in God's Word keeps us grounded. To have the desire and submit to God to be holy.
Can you imagine how different our lives would be if we really loved doing the will of God, more than doing our own, all of the time...
I liked verse 7 (chapter 20)
So set yoursleves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the LORD who makes you holy.
I would love to get to the point that I did not have to "practice" this; but, that I would automatically choose to do God's will daily!
Happy MONDAY all!
Lori - Mesa, AZ
I also pondered the holiness aspects of today's reading. I love the fact that--positionally--I am holy because I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, and because of that, God has set me apart, and made me holy, and that's how He sees me.
What I need to remember is that it doesn't end there. I have to practice practical holiness--and that involves striving to be more like Him. Only through His power!!
Have an awesome day, sisters!
Repetition was and is a way to plant ideas firmly in the mind. I noticed that God repeated Himself on the idea of holiness in our lives and of putting His commands into proctice. He says this in Lev. 20:7-8, 26, and 22:31-32.
Lori and Luanne, you both made very good points; by daily staying in God's word, we submit ourselves to the will of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit and put God's commands into practice.
Thank you too Wendy for the questions. They make an easy list to review and remind us how to focus our minds and direct our actions.
I am so thankful for this daily oportunity to remain in the Word!
Be blessed today,
-Karen, CA
Our call to holiness is also what stood out to me today. Oh, how I pray the Lord will give me a desire for holiness.
Although it was Lev.20:7 that called me to a deeper following this morning, another verse also spoke to my heart.
"Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death. Such a person is guilty of a capital offense." An asterix beside the word "dishonors" further explained: "Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of". Ok...is that speaking to anyone other than me?
I often find that the commandment to "honour your parents" is one of the hardest commandments to follow. With my parents living very close, I see them often. I'm often put in a position where a choice needs to be made, and sometimes it's difficult to choose to honour them. It's not that I don't love my parents. I love them deeply and believe they are the best Mom and Dad in the world. I sometimes struggle with drawing the line between honouring them and their wishes when I don't always agree with their choices. May the Lord guard my tongue from ever speaking disrespectfully to or concerning my parents.
I pray the Lord will help me and also give me wisdom in my relationship with my Mom and Dad.
My heart has been challenged today,
Joy
Okay, everyone is speaking to me today! I loved the discussion on being holy and thank you Lord that YOU make me holy.
Joyful, your comments on honoring mother and father hit home with me. It's easier to pick out some of the other disgraceful sins - especially the sexual ones and say "aha, that's right" in a self righteous way; but how many times do we dishonor our parents and don't think twice about it? My father isn't a believer and he leads a life that I cannot respect. To honor him is a huge challenge for me. I find I need to pray for forgiveness for him and direction from the Lord on this matter everyday. It's so hard.
Another area that kinda "bugged" me was that the family members of Aaron who had any defect whatsoever could not approach the altar. I wrote in my margin, "Now ALL can approach the altar thanks to Jesus the perfect sacrifice".
Amen to that!
Morgen - MN
Hi everyone!
Morgen, I noticed the same Scripture regarding Aaron and any defects in him and/or any of his family members. I have to say that bothered me as well, but we have Jesus now! I was honest with God and told Him that I really did not understand those verses, but I know that His ways are not my ways, and His ways are perfect! Isn't He awesome??
Boy, I am loving reading this awesome Word with you gals! Thanks for praying that I will keep this Word and the Lord my number one priorities.
Have a great day!
Lara
Hi Wendy and others,
I missed being involved last week due to a conference. It took me a while to read all the comments. Wendy thanks for the worship last week; it was awesome.
We took communion on Sunday and it meant so much more to me because of our readings last week. It makes what Jesus did on the cross so much more sacred when you realize what the people had to do under the law to be accepted in God’s presence. Under grace God only sees us through the eyes of Jesus. Just to meditate on who we are and what me have because we are now "In Christ”, makes me want to shout!!!!!
Oh.......my pastor told us yesterday that God's Stimulus Package was approved with his son's sacrifice, Debt paid in full! We are not subject to the world’s system of wealth. God has indeed given us ALL things! AMEN
Blessings Everyone,
Debbie - North Carolina
This wonderful post reminds me of:
Psalm 101:2-3
"I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing."
I am so thankful He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He is faithful!
Hugs to you, Wendy! I think of you each morning as I do my daily reading. I thank the Lord for your commitment and faithfulness, and I pray for you and your family! Love you!
Thanks Ladies for your insights! I highlighted verse 20:7 also. "So, set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, For I am the Lord who makes you holy."
This too made me think of how much time I spend doing other things that I necessarily shouldn't be doing. Watching a tv show instead of reading His Word.....not holding my tongue with others....and the list goes on.
I thank God that he loves me regardless of my many faults and the more I get to know Him the more I want to please Him...it doesn't necessarily feel like "I have to" its now "I want to". And that feels absolutley amazing!
Blessing to you all
Julie
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