Different by Design: God’s Call to Holiness

Listen to today’s passage – Leviticus 19 – 21

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Leviticus 19

Second Milers also read – John 13 – 14; Proverbs 10; Psalms 51 – 55

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 34:1 – 4

Read the “0210 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself“

“Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” – (Leviticus 19:2)

“And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” – (Leviticus 20:26)

In the passages we have read from Leviticus today, we see that God intended there to be a difference in the people of Israel from the world that surrounded them; or actually, would surround them when they finally entered into the land of Canaan where God was bringing them. God warns them not to be like the people of the land. God was removing them (the Canaanites, etc.) from the land because of their sinful lifestyles. God’s people would have to be different, or God would expel them out of the land as well.

In the three chapters that we have read today there are many different commandments from the Lord regarding how they were to be a holy people, set apart from the rest of the world. I will not take the time to deal with all of them, but I will mention a few here in this devotion. Think about the world we live in today as we examine these thoughts; and see if we, as Christians, are as “set apart” as we should be. Let’s take a quick look at how the children of Israel were to be different:

• They were to be different morally.

Much of chapter 20 deals with sexual sins such as adultery, homosexuality, and even bestiality. God says that the previous inhabitants of the land were all guilty of these things. The people in our world today are also very perverted in their ability to live morally pure lives. We live in an era where cultural messages increasingly normalize behaviors the Bible clearly calls sin, from casual hookups to redefining God’s design for sexuality. Yet God’s people are called to pursue purity in a world that celebrates ‘freedom’ at any cost.

• They were to be different in their compassion for others.

They were to make provisions in their crops for the poor and the stranger. God reminds them that they were strangers at one time. He wanted them to leave the corners of their fields, and the gleanings for people who needed help. How concerned are we today about helping people? Many of us have been blessed by God with abundance. God wants us to share part of that blessing with others. I think the key here is that God wants us to remember that it all comes from him anyway. We are often like the kid who was eating with his dad at McDonalds. When his dad reached for a french fry out of his son’s meal, the son pulled them away. Not very wise considering the dad supplied the meal in the first place, and would be the supplier of many future meals.

I have to pause here and say that God’s people are typically very generous, especially when there is a need presented to them. There have been many cases at our church where people found out that a family was struggling financially and they stepped up to do what they could to help.

• They were also to be different in their faith.

The people of the land were very superstitious. They worshipped all kinds of “gods” and idols. Some were even guilty of sacrificing their own children. God wanted the people of Israel to stay far away from all of that stuff. No wizards; no witches; no familiar spirits; no divination; no astrologers; no soothsayers; none of that junk. God wants his children to be wholly dependent upon Him; and He does not want to share His glory; or His worship with anybody, or anything else.

Today’s idols may not be stone statues, but they’re just as real: careers that consume us, screens that demand our attention, comfort we refuse to sacrifice, or even our own opinions elevated above God’s Word. They may not be little statues, but they are there none the less. An idol is anything that comes between us and God.

• They were to be different in their respect for the older folks.

I think that we are getting away from this in our world as well. There used to be a time in America when Granddad and Grandma were the patriarchs and matriarchs of the family. They were deeply revered and respected by their children and grandchildren. It isn’t like that any more; but we need to get back to it. Today, even young children will mock their elders, and answer back to them. Christian parents need to be very careful that they do not tolerate such behavior in their children. This will become increasingly important in our American culture as the Baby Boomers, a large segment of our population, continues to age.

• They were to be different in their business dealings.

They were to be fair and honest with people; never cheating them with unjust balances and such. The world today is replete with people who will are trying to steal money away from others. There are myriads of scams out their designed to rob others. God’s people should never be involved in any business dealing that is not providing a good product or service at a fair price.

These were just a few thoughts from the passage. There are many more examples contained in the text. But how do we fare today in this present world that we live in? Are we any different from them? Or are we just like them with the exception of the “fish emblems” on our cars. As time goes by, there ought to be more and more of a striking difference between God’s people and the people of this world. Just a thought.

And, just in case you thought holiness was just an Old Testament principle, consider what Peter said:

“13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:13–16)

Lord, help us to be truly set apart—not in pride, but in humble obedience to You.

May our lives reflect Your holiness more each day. Amen.