Holiness: an Act of Love.

In Leviticus 19:1-2 God has instructed us to be Holy because He (our God) is Holy …

What does it mean to be holy? In the last blog entry, we explored how one part of being holy means to be sanctified, or set apart for God. But, in order to be set apart, we must first know the difference between those things that are holy and those that are not. After God instructs us to be holy in Leviticus 19 (vs 1-2), He then lists very specifically, beginning with verse 3, holy and unholy things. In fact, throughout God’s Word, He makes it very clear that there are things which are pleasing to Him, and those that are not.  Things that are pleasing to Him are holy in His sight.

During a recent speaking trip in the USA, I taught about God’s holiness and the importance of being holy, if we believe in Yeshua. I was accused of teaching the “LAW” and legalism. Striving to be holy – obeying what God has commanded us to do – is not legalism, but an act of love.

I can’t help but think of my relationship with my wife as an example. God has blessed me with a wonderful wife; during our courtship period, Melissa and I were challenged not to say that we loved each other until we were engaged. At first, we were angry with that challenge. We thought this was legalism and it was hard to accept. However, we later understood that the challenge came from a place of love, that the person who gave us this challenge wanted us to learn to show our love for each other through our actions, and not through empty words.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

Faith without action is dead. In the same way, love without action is dead as well.  I can tell my wife, Melissa, all day long that I love her but if my actions do not show it, how would she believe me? Instead, I learned to study what made my wife feel loved and what actions I could take to show her love.  I love my wife and greatly desire for her to know that.  How much greater ought to be my love for my God?  Our Messiah, himself, put it this way:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

Our desire should be to learn God’s Word, to know that which is pleasing to Him (i.e., holy), that which is not, and ultimately to aspire to live a holy life.

I encourage each of us to continue to search our hearts and allow God to work in and through us for His namesake.

Blessings in Him,

Moran