It’s easy to point at the world and say, “They’re the problem.” But maybe the better place to start is with the mirror. Before judging culture, neighbors, or even religious communities, we need to ask: How am I living? Do my choices reflect the God I claim to follow?

God hasn’t asked us to fix everyone else. He’s asked us to walk in His ways. That begins with humility, not superiority; it is a matter of personal responsibility first.

In Ezekiel 20:7, God speaks to His people, not outsiders:

I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’

That same voice echoes today. The idols may look different—career, image, pride, politics—but the call hasn’t changed.

God is holy. He has not lowered the standard just because we live in complicated times. In Leviticus 19:2, we hear it clearly:

You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.

But what does that actually mean? It’s not just about being “good” or “spiritual.” Holiness, from the Hebrew קָדוֹשׁ (kadosh), means set apart. Different. Devoted. It's reflected in how we speak, how we love, how we treat others, how we live when no one’s watching.

And God doesn’t leave holiness vague or symbolic. He lays it out in Leviticus 19 and 20 — respect your parents, keep the Sabbath, care for the poor, avoid injustice, honor marriage, do not hate, do not exploit. Real holiness touches real life.

It’s tempting to confuse being “chosen” with being entitled. But God’s choosing was never about status—it was about purpose. In Ezekiel 20:12, He reminds us why He called us:

Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

He set us apart not so we could boast, but so we could be different—for His glory, not our own.

So again, the mirror: Have I let His holiness shape me? Or have I settled for being “better than most”?

In Amos 9:7, God levels the playing field:

Are you not like the sons of the Cushites to Me, O sons of Israel? Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt?

In other words—don’t think you’re special because of where you come from. What makes us special is who we follow, and how we reflect His character.

I’ve asked myself: What was I chosen for? And the answer keeps circling back to this—to walk in His ways so others can see Him through me. Not to dominate, not to control, not to parade my convictions—but to love truthfully, live humbly, and reflect God’s justice and mercy.

There’s a deep hunger in our world—people are searching for something real. They don’t need more noise or judgment. They need light. They need truth. They need people who live differently, not just talk differently.

Holiness isn’t a badge. It’s a way of life. It is a calling to be changed so we can help others see the One who changes everything.

Let’s be those people. Let’s be set apart—for the right reasons.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran