“Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2 ESV).
God explained to Moses the purpose behind the laws of personal conduct for the people of Israel, namely: Holiness. The Hebrew word for “holy” is “qadosh” (קָדוֹשׁ), literally meaning to be set apart for special use, to be consecrated, sacred, holy. God had chosen the Israelites to be His special people, set apart for His purpose. They were to be different than the world, showing forth the glory and holiness of God, as His image bearers.
Yet, the law was unable to change their unholy hearts. It worked somewhat to restrain their outward behavior, but its real effect was to reflect their guilty hearts and reveal their need for a Savior. No one could perfectly keep the law.
If we are to be holy as the Lord our God is holy, then we must receive His Holy One, Jesus the Christ. For Jesus is the only one who has perfectly kept all the law. And receiving Him, we are adopted into God’s family as His children and called to bear the mark of our Father, who is holy (Matt. 5:48, 1 Pet. 1:15-17).
PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. Your call to holiness, to be set apart as Your children, is in our ears. For we have received Your holy Son, Jesus, into our hearts. Strengthen our will power and our working-power to follow You In all things. For You call us to pull our affections off the world and to put them on You. We are set apart this day unto You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.