Week 27: Holy
Today’s Text: Leviticus 10-12
Key Verse: 11:44
“For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”
In the midst of all the regulation and ritualistic instruction, chapter after chapter of “do this” and “don’t do that” there is this wonderful summation of why any of it matters.
God is holy, and we are called to be holy as well.
As they would find out, as we all must learn, this can’t be done by religious ritual alone. It is quite impossible to follow every law, recite every invocation, make every sacrifice, perfectly – and thus become holy like God.
On the other hand, if and when we devote ourselves to a reverential, honoring, loving relationship to God – and that is represented in our ritual and our religious expression – we begin to find meaning in the journey toward holiness.
Ultimately, God in His grace, provides a way for us to approach His holiness without fear of being burned up at the altar.
The New Testament speaks of this when we are invited to approach God’s throne with confidence – not because we are holy enough to do so – not because we “deserve” it – but because God in His grace offers that access as a gift through the sacrifice of Christ.
Holiness is something we too often equate with this or that ritual.
I think holiness, in its deepest and most profound expression, is about relationship – not ritual.
God – Holy, perfect, righteous, powerful – invites us – into relationship with Him.
Somehow, through that miraculous process, we become holy in God’s eyes.
We could never do that ourselves, no matter how many sacrifices we made.
The good news is – God has made the one, holy sacrifice – for all.
That, and that alone, is why and how we “approach His throne” with confidence and thankfulness.
That, and that alone, is how we can become holy.
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 