Tag: holy God
Exalt God’s Name and Word
Scripture reading for July 11th: 1st Corinthians 5, Psalm 138, Proverbs 14
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 5:9-12 “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people–not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler–not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.””
The church at Corinth had an immoral person among their members who was living with his own father’s wife. Paul explained how the leaders should handle this situation by putting that person out of the church. The goal was their salvation and maintaining the integrity of Christ’s body. This does not mean that believers must avoid immoral people of the world. We are to be witnesses to them of Christ Jesus’ love, grace and call to repentance.
Faith Confession: Thank You Lord for instructing Your Church to stand for holiness among those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Help me to stand for Your Name and Word and reach out to the lost world involved in immorality.
Psalm 138:2 “I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your Name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word.”
Jesus separated Himself!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Leviticus 9-11, Mark 1
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:35-38 “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.””
Jesus, Son of God, separated Himself from His followers and the crowds that sought Him for His ability to heal. He went to desolate places to pray and commune with the Father. He desired only to do His Father’s will and fulfill all the Father’s plans. He had no fear of man or desire for the crowd’s applause. Holiness is separation from the world (Egypt) and separation to our Holy God and His holy will.
Leviticus 11:44-45 “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” . . . “For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
The Fear of the Lord!
Scripture reading for January 31st: Leviticus 6-10
Key Scriptures: Leviticus 10:1-3 “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the Presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said: “Among those who approach Me, I will show Myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.””
Our holy God demands obedience and honor among those who serve Him. These two young men were careless in coming before the Lord. Alcohol and intoxication may have been involved. (Leviticus 10:8-10) A healthy fear of the Lord is needed among His people to keep them from doing that which displeases Him.
Thankful for a holy fear: The Holy Spirit is a ‘Spirit of the Fear of the Lord’. (Isaiah 11:2-3) “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Dressing for Success!
Scripture reading for February 9th: Leviticus 21-23
Today, people seem to want to come to church in the most casual attire possible. They are very individualistic in their tastes and often want to stand out because of some unusual hair style, color, tattoo or piercing. Some shave off all their hair and others wear various hair pieces. Some wear jeans and others dress in suit and tie. A few years back, almost everyone dressed up for church and put on their most special clothes. What was it like in Moses day?
According to our reading today, priests had very strict dress and behavior rules. God was holy and they must be holy too or they might die! (Leviticus 22:9) For me, this is a good enough reason to pay attention to God’s rules!
In Chapter 21, God warned his priests not to shave their heads, cut the edges of their beards, or cut their bodies. Their appearance was somehow connected with holiness. These men had to present offerings to the Lord each day. The High Priest who had been anointed with the holy oil could not let his hair become unkempt or messed up! He could not touch a dead body, even that of his mother or father! He was under strict rules because of his position and responsibility before God.
The priests could not marry just anyone either. They could only marry a virgin from among their own people. They could not marry a widow or divorced person or anyone engaged in prostitution! The reason given is that this would defile the offspring and make them unfit to serve in the priesthood and handle the holy offerings. (Leviticus 21:7-8, 13-15)
Priests could not serve and handle offerings if they had a skin disease or had been near a dead body. If they did handle the offerings knowingly when they were unclean, they must be cut off from God’s presence and never allowed to offer sacrifices again! God looked at these requirements with great seriousness and did not allow for levity or laxity! (Leviticus 22:1-4)
So, what does this mean for us today in the twenty-first century? Holiness is not determined today by how we dress outwardly. Jesus fulfilled the law. We must be dressed in His righteousness and cleansed by His blood to be clean. However, our dress outwardly often reflects our heart attitude. Many are lax about their approach to God. If they are seeking more to be noticed by others or to express their individuality and right to expression by modifying their bodies or displaying them inappropriately, then beware! Our God is still a holy God and those who approach him must come with humility and holy respect.
Marriage is another area of disreguard in today’s culture. Adultery and fornication are regular practices of people who approach God and say that they love Jesus. Divorce and the breaking of vows made before God is a routine practice even among professing Christians. God does not take this as lightly as we do. He desires holiness and holy offspring! (Leviticus 21:15; Malachi 2:15)