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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You told Israel, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2). This teaches me that the word “holy” describes your essential nature. You are completely separate from all sin, and you are sanctified (set apart) to a loving relationship between the persons of the Trinity. I praise you as the holy God, and I want my life to reflect your holiness! (1 Pet 1:14–16). Today in Your Word Today you told me about your boundaries for sex and your laws concerning holiness. The nations of Egypt and Canaan practiced many sexual perversions: homosexuality, bestiality, etc. Their fertility cults also made immorality a religious obligation. In contrast, your laws governing sexual behavior put boundaries in place to honor and protect marriage. Further, your laws prohibited the marriage of close relatives, a restriction which became necessary because of the genetic defects that arose due to the fall. This shows me how much you care about preserving and protecting the family unit and how important it is to instill a proper understanding of appropriate sexual behavior in my children. Your laws concerning holiness were practical and directly related to everyday living. Indeed, Leviticus 19 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible when it comes to understanding what it means to be holy. Being holy means: obeying your ritual requirements, leaving fruit for the needy, not stealing from your neighbor, caring for the deaf and blind, keeping sex within your boundaries, shunning pagan practices, honoring your ownership of all things, and respecting the elderly. This teaches me that holiness is all about loving you and loving others. You want me to be separate from sin and the world and set apart to you alone (Lev 20:26). Reflection The Pharisees thought Leviticus 18:5 meant that keeping the law brought them into a right relationship with you (cf. Acts 15:1, 5). Paul argued that keeping the law was the fruit of justification, not the means of justification. The law was given to Israel to show them how to live a holy life, not as a moral hurdle they had to clear if they wished to be saved. Request Father, it’s not always easy to be loving and forgiving to my neighbor. Help me to return good for evil and to treat other believers as fellow-heirs of the grace of Christ (Rom 12:21; 1 Pet 3:7). Thanksgiving Thank you for the practical guidance you’ve given me in Leviticus on how to be holy. How grateful I am for the boundaries you’ve placed in my life! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “Take Time to Be Holy” by William D. Longstaff. Meditation Verse: Leviticus 19:2. |