Leviticus 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
The command to be holy is a command to be different; different because holiness pushes you toward God and away from the world. Our God is a holy God, and you will never be close to God without living a holy life. I am always amused at the “worship” crowd of this present society who claim to worship a holy God but whose lives and church services mimic the world. Leviticus 19 gives the believer seven areas where holiness makes a difference in what you do.
First, holiness means you serve God differently than the world. It is amazing how so many are copying worldly churches and their methods of church service. I serve God, not to look like the world, but to get closer to God so I can serve Him in the manners and methods that He expects. I could care less that the world has their colored lights, praise and worship teams, and dressed down people as they go to church; I serve a holy God that should never be served in the manners that children of darkness say to serve Him. I am a child of light, and I should serve God as a child of light should serve Him.
Second, holiness means you live differently than the world. I am different than the world because I am God’s child. I should dress differently, talk differently, and live differently from the world. I go to church three times a week because the Scriptures teach us to do this. I live a separated life, not to be better than others, but to be closer to a holy God. You must live differently if you truly want to be close to God.
Third, holiness means you treat people differently than the world. The world uses people to get what they want, but God’s people live their lives to build people. Holiness means you try to meet the needs of someone that you can truly help. Holiness means you will be inconvenienced just to help someone in need. When you are close to God, it results in your desire to help people.
Fourth, holiness means you do business differently than the world. The world doesn't understand why you don't do business on Sundays, but that is the Lord’s day. The believer should be honest in their business dealings, even if it means they lose money. A Christian businessperson who desires to live a holy life will conduct business in the same manner that God would because, as a steward of God, you are running God’s business that He allows you to put your name on.
Fifth, holiness means you deal with hurts differently than the world. The world looks for revenge when they get hurt, but the one who desires to be close to God will forgive. You cannot be close to God and be an unforgiving person. Forgiveness and holiness are inseparable because God is a forgiving God, which means the believer who lives a holy life will be forgiving.
Sixth, holiness means you treat the opposite sex differently than the world. You will not be immoral if you live a holy life. You will treat the opposite sex with purity in mind when you live a holy life. You cannot be holy and immoral in mind and action at the same time.
Seventh, holiness means you treat the elderly differently than the world. The world pushes the elderly aside, but God commands to honor the elderly. Your treatment of the elderly shows whether you truly desire to live a holy life.
Comentários