Thank you to Ian for this week’s MWB
Commanded to be holy
Lev.19 v.2 reads “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” This commandment was given to a people who were definitely not holy but God was telling them to – “Be holy.” – How can a rebellious people suddenly make themselves holy? In Lev.20 v.7/8 we find these rebellious people were told to – “Consecrate yourselves and be holy because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord who makes you holy.”
They couldn’t make themselves holy but it was in God’s plan to make them holy, but there was a first stage – “Consecrate yourselves” – they had to choose to separate themselves from evil and to offer themselves to God; – set apart. Then, when a person had consecrated themselves to follow God’s way, God could begin the steps to make them holy. That first step is essential; we have to choose.
In Matt.5 v.48 we read – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 1 Peter 1 v.16 tells us – “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ How can we, who have failed to follow God’s way, make ourselves perfect or holy? We cannot but, in Heb.ch.10 we find Jesus quoted as saying to the Father – “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” – – – – “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” and in v.14 we have – “By one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.”
When Jesus said – “Follow me” – the first step on the Way of Holiness is to take the first step Jesus himself took – he offered himself to do the will of the Father – he consecrated himself to follow God’s will and that is the first step we must take – to commit ourselves to follow him, then the Holy Spirit can begin his sanctifying work in us. In Jn.17 v.19 Jesus prays for those who will follow him – “For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”
In Matt 19 v.21 Jesus said to the rich young man who wanted to get eternal life and who claimed to have fulfilled all the commandments – “If you want to be perfect, go, sell all of your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. – – – Sadly, this young man loved the riches of this world too much and walked away from Jesus.
Prayer – Help us Lord to offer ourselves to you each day; to live in this world but to not be part of it by allowing your Holy Spirit to guide us along the way of holiness.