2014 - Day 35

Be holy...specifically, be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Searching for just the words be holy, garnered quite a few hits.

Which reminded me of this passage from the New Testament:

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

E-Sword doesn't have a cross reference, or if it does I haven't found it. My Bible has a Peter referencing Leviticus 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7 and I have a marginal note adding verse 26.

These verses call for us to sanctify ourselves:

Lev 11:44  For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Lev 20:7  Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

Be a reflection of Him:

Lev 19:2  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.

Separated from the heathen:

Lev 20:26  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.

Until I'd done a search for 'be holy' I didn't realize how many times God says it.  The first instance:

Exo_22:31  And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

The particular phrase be holy is used in 39 verses...another one from the New Testament:

Eph_1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The body (Jew and Gentile in one):

Eph_5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

With the phrase be ye holy only 3 occasions Lev 20:7, 1 Peter 1:16 and this one:

1Pe_1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

In all manner of conversation - still mulling over speaking in your heart (inward conversations and/or thoughts) and how they manifest outwardly.

in - G1722 - A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.

all manner - G3956 - Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

of conversation - G391 - From G390; behavior.

• G390 - From G303 and G4762; to overturn; also to return; by implication to busy oneself, that is, remain, live.
• G303 - A primary preposition and adverb; properly up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.).
• G4762 - Strengthened from the base of G5157; to twist, that is, turn quite around or reverse (literally or figuratively).

Thus concludes my musings on my daily reading today, quite a path I've followed and been exhorted.  Lord, help us Your people to be holy as You are.  To give a proper representation of You in all areas of our lives, especially in our conversations, whether they be internal or outward.

Crash and Burn

This morning:  The thought which ran through my mind, "Lord, I 'feel' like I am crashing and burning in my relationship with you.  I 'feel' like I've lost my first love."

I had received a new issue of Leben magazine and while reading the article on Robinson Crusoe, (with a look at the author Daniel Defoe) came across this:

"In time, a pattern of spiritual progress or decline thought to be common to all Christians became the template (talking about autobiographies). That template organized a man's spiritual life along these lines:

1. The work of God's providence in the man's life before he came to Christ.

2. The steps by which God's providence prepared the man for conversion.

3. The time and manner of the man's conversion and the things that immediately followed.

4. The predictable, but sad and long spiritual decline that would follow.

5. The man's recovery from that decline and the renewal of his commitment to Christ.

6. An account of some of the things that followed in the next few years.

7. A description of the man's current spiritual condition with accompanying observations and thanksgivings."

Where am I on that scale?  Number 4 'jumped' out at me.  The really sad thing?  I've been here before.  Is this process circular?  I feel dry, parched, distant.  I know God didn't move.  He's right where He's always been.  Its me...what's wrong with me?  Why do I have these ebbs and flows in my relationship with Him?

I do not believe in coincidence, rather divine appointments.  This video came up in my inbox:

This is War, Paul Washer

What's he saying right out the gate?  One great love, to love the Lord our God with all our spirit, soul, strength and mind.

Mar_12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Next exhortation - one great passion and he quotes:

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

While he is evidently speaking to men, these admonitions are applicable to all, regardless of gender, age, marital status, etc.

How often do I keep these words before me?  Really meditate upon them?  Do them?

Separation from that which displeases God - do I even inquire as to what will please and glorify Him?

Next?  A great commission - Go Tell.  Fight for the faith.  How equipped am I?  If I were in a battle (and we all are, all the time) what would I have to defend/offend?  I'm feeling pretty bare in the weapons department right now.  Where is my passion for knowing Him, for reading His word, for studying Him?  O' Lord, renew me, give me a passion for You, Your Word, Your righteousness.  Cleanse me, wash me fresh, renew a right spirit within me.

Help me Lord to love You, to desire You, to thirst after You.  Let this be my cry:

Psa_42:1  As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.