Called to be Holy

"For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy." Leviticus 11:45 NLT

The Israelites call to be holy was based on two things. First was their redemption. God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt to be His people. Their response to God's saving grace was to be obedience to His commands. Obedience results in holiness. Second was God's character. God is holy and those who desire to live in relationship with Him must be holy. God would not accommodate himself to sin to relate to His people but rather He enabled His people to rise to holiness to relate to Him. Remember Leviticus in all of its tedious detail served as a practical guide to living holy and as a constant reminder of the need for holiness in the lives of God's ancient people.

Peter related the call to holiness found in Leviticus to the lives of New Testament Christians when He wrote, "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. For he himself has said, 'You must be holy because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT). Our call to holiness is likewise based on our redemption and God's character. God has rescued us from slavery to sin and our response is to live in loving obedience to our Savior. God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) remains Holy. He does not lower Himself to accommodate our sin. The Bible guides us in Holiness, the blood of Christ cleanses us for holiness, and the Holy Spirit empowers us for holiness so that we can live in relationship with the Holy God who loves us more than we can imagine.

Father, You are holy and as You are holy I desire to be holy so that I may glorify You and live in close relationship with you. Thank you for all that you have done and are doing to raise me from sin to holiness. May your grace have its intended effect of holiness in my life today.

I'm praying for you.
Pastor Mark