Reading

• Deut. 23:1-8
• Num. 6:1-21
• Lev. 27:1-34
• Deut. 23:21-23
• Lev. 19:1-2
• Deut. 22:9-11
• Lev. 19:19a

Devotional

Lev. 19:1-2 contains a key phrase that is repeated throughout the entire Bible. It says:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

GOD is completely, totally and supremely holy. The Hebrew word that is translated “holy” means “sacred.” In other words, something or someone that is holy is to be thought of and treated respectfully. GOD is holy because He is completely free from sin. Moses wrote:

“Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
(Ex. 15:11 NKJV)

The apostle Peter would later echo this instruction to Christians to live holy lives:

…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
(1 Pet. 1:15-16 NKJV)

In order for us to be holy we must keep ourselves pure and free from sin.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
(Jam. 1:27 NKJV)

As Christians, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit—the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. GOD says that this temple is holy.

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
(1 Cor. 3:17 NKJV)

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians:

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
(Col. 1:21-23 NKJV)

Holiness is very important to GOD. It always has been. We need to be very serious about this truth.