22 lines
3.9 KiB
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22 lines
3.9 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">January 5</div></div>
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<div class="main-just"><div class="pad2030"><h2>One Summary Message of the Law: Be Holy</h2>
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<div class="block"><p><i>And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: '<b>You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy</b>. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God.'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Lev',19,'1-4');">Leviticus 19:1-4</a>)</div>
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<p>What is the overall <b>message</b> of <b>God's law</b>? How could a person <b>summarize</b> the <b>law</b> of <b>God</b>? In this statement to Moses, the Lord mentions a few of the commandments from His holy law. He speaks of proper treatment of parents. He calls for a weekly day of rest. He prohibits the worship of idols. Then, He provides a two-word <b>summary</b> of His law: <i>"<b>be holy</b>."</i></p><p>In this call to holiness, the Lord holds forth <b>Himself</b> as the <b>reason</b> for, and <b>standard</b> of, living holy lives. <i>"<b>You</b> shall be <b>holy</b>, <b>for I</b> the <b>LORD</b> your God am <b>holy</b>."</i> God is holy, so He requires holiness to be a distinctive trait of His people.</p><p>What is the holiness of God? It has to do with His character. <b>Holiness</b> speaks of that which is <b>innate</b> with God. It is <b>inherent</b> or <b>intrinsic</b> to His character. Also, it <b>contrasts</b> that which is <b>foreign</b> to <b>His being</b>. In the Lord God there is perfect righteousness, and in Him no unrighteousness dwells. Complete moral purity abides in God. Conversely, in Him there is not even a trace of moral evil. In fact, everything about Him is spiritually pure and morally unpolluted.</p><p>This <b>holy character</b> of the <b>Lord God</b> is the <b>standard</b> that the <b>law</b> holds forth for humanity. God's chosen nation, Israel, was given this standard in writing. All others have this standard written on the conscience. <i>"</i>(Gentiles) <i>show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',2,15);">Romans 2:15</a>). <b>All</b> who are born into this world are <b>measured</b> by <b>God's law</b>, which demands that the holy character of God be seen in their lives before God. This includes how they relate to God and to one another. The message of the law is: "<b>be holy</b>."</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">O Holy Father, I worship You for Your perfect holiness. None is holy, O Lord, besides You. You are pure and righteous in all of Your being and all of Your doing. Father, I am aware of, and convicted of, my lack of inborn holiness. I confess that I could never produce a life that would measure up to Your holy standards. I thank You for the gracious forgiveness that is available in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I take comfort in, and find hope in, the righteousness that Your Son can bring to those who trust in Him day by day!</div>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/01/0104.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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