Leading A Holy Life
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Leviticus 21, 22 (NIV)
(Phoebe Yee)
READ:
Prior to Leviticus 21 and 22, God instructed His people through Leviticus 20:26 – “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”
In Leviticus 21 and 22, God through Moses, gave instructions to the priests which showed how seriously He takes the holiness of His people. The importance of being holy was repeated across the two chapters at:
-Leviticus 21:1 and 4 (ESV)
-Leviticus 21:6 (ESV)
– Leviticus 21:8 (ESV)
-Leviticus 22:15 (ESV)
OBSERVE:
God’s holiness permeated all aspects of the lives of the Israelites – from how to treat the dead, who to marry, how to shower, who can approach God’s altar and make offerings, to the specifications of the animals for sacrifice.
APPLY:
God desires His people to be holy – set apart and differentiated from the world. God’s people are to do good and be pure in hearts and hands, so that His own people and others will know He is a God of life and goodness. In the same way, as a Christian, I am called to be holy in today’s world. Holiness should permeate all areas of my life.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said He came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets. What does this mean for me as a Christ follower today? It is to believe that Jesus has come to redeem me from my sins and shortfalls through His work on the cross. His resurrection power has given me life and the ability to overcome sin to live a holy life.
DO:
In today’s complex world, it will be nice if the Bible spells out specifically how I am to live so I do not need to figure out or debate with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ on what is “right” or what is “wrong”. While it is not so clear-cut today, I can go back to Scripture for wisdom on leading a holy life. Jesus Himself had demonstrated it for His disciples. It is about living a life desiring to do God’s will, doing justice, being sacrificial, humble, and compassionate. While I struggle to live out God’s teachings and instructions, I recognise His power and shall rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to renew my mind and heart daily. Romans 12:2 reminds me “To not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
PRAY:
A prayer according to Psalm 51:1-12 (NIV):
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
