Reflections from March 30, 2011

Today we are reminded of God's holiness. God tells Moses to speak to all of Israel and tell them in Leviticus 19:2, "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'"

Here, God goes on to provide several commands regarding how to live their life. Each command comes out of the character of God, and they all relate to living a holy lifestyle. Some that stand out include;
* Respect for parents
* Forsaking idolatry
* Concern for the poor
* Honesty and integrity in business -- this should also include toward our employer
* Protection of the physically challenged
* Loving one's neighbor as yourself
* Respect for the elderly
* Love towards strangers in your land

This theme continues as we read in Leviticus 20:7, 8 and 26,
"Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you." "And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine."

By giving His commandments, God set a standard by which the Israelites were to live. Many of these standards apply to us today; only now, unfortunately, we as a society have chosen to disregard these commandments. Consequently, we are drifting further and further away from God, and away from a holy lifestyle. As people today set their own standards, their own "truth" that fits their lifestyle, they become a definer of truth and reality. The absolutes of God are pushed out of their lives, meaning that God is pushed out of their lives. By doing this and setting their own standards and absolutes, they become a god and chaos in society ensues. God's absolutes and standards bind us as a society and keeps us on a moral compass heading the right direction; toward God. By having these truths in our lives, we all agree on matters such as ethics, honesty, truth, morality crime and justice. Without God's direction and standards, we become an abomination.

Blessings to all