Devotion...

Leviticus 19:2 (NIV)
2
"Speak to the entire
assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy
because I, the LORD your God, am holy....

Holy: unmixed, pure, undefiled, set apart for
one use, not for common usage. All these
terms are used for the word 'holy'. Of all
God's attributes, this is the one that seems to
draw from creation the most reverential awe.
The special beings of praise fly around the
throne singing, "Holy, holy, holy!" As they do,
all those around the throne, men and angels,
join with them, in awe of His holiness.

What is God commanding us to be? Fallen
man is so polluted with desire for the
temporal and self-appeasing pleasures. God
is telling everyone that this is not His plan for
man. God wants to commune with us and the
Holy will not commune with the vile. There
must be a change so that we can enter into
that relationship God desires to have with us.
All the rituals in Leviticus are painting
pictures of how God will one day bring it
about through the sacrifice of His only Son.

The reason that we are to be holy is so that
we can come into communion with Him. But
that is not the only reason. The main reason
is the one stated here, "...because I, the LORD
your God, am holy." A thing is right or wrong
because it is consistent or inconsistent with
the perfection of God. All that is good is truly
good because it is like the goodness of God.
All that is genuine love is like the love of God,
who is pure and perfect Love. You should be
gracious toward others in the same way God
is gracious toward you. The same is true of
all His attributes. You, as His people, are
expected to reflect His character, including
His holiness. Be holy BECAUSE He is holy.

Meditation: Is there something in my life that
I must forsake to be more like God?See More