Day 6

Deuteronomy 21-23

BE HOLY

The Lord your God walks in the midst of your camp – Deut. 23:14

            God promises to deliver us and give our enemies over to us.  That promise is conditional.  We are to be holy.  Holy is another word for separate or different.  If anything was dedicated to God it was considered holy.  When we are dedicated to God we are holy.  All saints are holy ones.  That’s what the word means.

            In the Old Testament holiness was demonstrated by outward observances.  In the New Testament holiness is inward.  The point of this passage is that holiness is to be practiced out of respect for the Lord.  God walks in the midst.  God has saved us to holiness.  Everything about a believer is to be different.  Our speech, our habits, our morals, our appearance, our attitude are all to reflect our holy God.  God is holy, because there is no one like Him.  He is different than the lesser gods.  His perfection in goodness and righteousness set Him apart from heathen deities.  We are to be like Him.  That is holiness.

            When a Christian does unholy things, he or she does things unlike our God.  We are to imitate Christ (I Cor. 11:1).  When we use the language of the world, borrow the habits of the world, and take up the cares of this world, we are not practicing holiness but worldliness.  We show no holiness, i.e. no difference between Christians and unbelievers.  We may be saved, but we do not impress. The world sees a parody, and witnesses no walk in victory.

            If you’re not experience victory you might want to check your holiness.  Holiness comes from the Holy Spirit.  Worldliness comes from our fallen spirit.  God will give your enemies over to you when He sees no unclean thing… (v.14).   God is not expecting perfection but dedication.  When we surrender ourselves to the Holy One, He takes care of the enemies.  Sometimes people come against us.  Sometimes temptations threaten us.  Sometimes snares endanger us.  They are real and present enemies, but our arch adversary is the Devil himself.  The Bible says the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet… (Rom. 16:20).  That’s a promise for holy feet.

Check it out – holiness!