A family heirloom – a treasure – given by someone as a special gift, cherished through the generations. Delicate, fragile, placed on display with the disclaimer… “That’s mine! My grandmother gave it to me… don’t touch it!” (And for the children who heard that warning there are some unfortunate and sad sequels, eh?)
Well here’s some wonderful news… God feels that way about His people! Those He has redeemed from the power of sin – those he has purchased with His own blood! They’re special! He has set them apart for Himself! They’re “holy” – “sanctified” – set apart for Himself, His purposes!
I just read about this as an Old Testament reality about how God viewed the nation of Israel in Leviticus. As a result of the Lord setting them apart to Himself they were to view themselves differently – they were to live by a different set of values than the nations around them – they were to be “holy”!
Here’s how Leviticus 20 puts it…
“Consecrate yourselves! Be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you! … You shall not walk in the customs of the nations that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things… But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land and I will give it to you to possess… I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples… You shall be holy to me! I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine!”
Wow! Separated from sin – set apart to God – distinct from the broader culture as God’s very own people! That’s what God did to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament! And that’s what He’s done to us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and through the sanctifying (“setting apart”) work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
This is how the New Testament puts it… “You are not your own! You were bought with a price! So glorify God in your body!” (1 Corinthians 6:20) And how about these words? … As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance! But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy!’” (1 Peter 1:14-16) … And these as well… “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession – that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light! Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people! Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy!” (1 Peter 2: 9-10)
Incredible! I need to realize who I am through Christ! I need to realize what God has done in my life! I’m a “saint” – a “holy one” – set apart from sin to the Lord. I’m precious to Him! I’ve been redeemed from sin through His sacrifice on the cross! I’m not my own – I’m God’s own special possession! I’ve been set apart as one of His own special people to glorify and honor His Name in the broader culture! God help me to do it!
Coffee With The Lord 