Scripture:
Leviticus 22:31-33 ESV
[31] “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. [32] And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, [33] who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord.”
Observation:
I do my best not to take anything out of context, or twist anything to fit my life. However, I am not a Bible scholar. I have been studying the Bible for several years now and still get things wrong. I send these S.O.A.P’s out to not only share the gospel because that is what we are all called to do, but also because iron sharpens iron and this is an opportunity for daily discussion about the living word of GOD. So here we go. GOD was speaking to HIS people through Moses. Telling them the way they live is not the same as the people HE was driving out of the land HE had promised them. They would have specific guidelines that made them different. These guidelines (called the commandments) would draw a clear difference between them and anyone else. They were not to be the same as others. The word sanctified means to set apart to make different. GOD drew a clear line between his people and the Egyptians at the Red Sea it was clear that HE had a plan for the news right there. Honestly, there were many other times when it was obvious that GOD had set them apart, but this one is just fresh on my mind. The thing that set them apart was their lifestyle. They were not to live like other people did and GOD had brought them out of the bondage of slavery, and given them the commandments so that they would know what holiness looked like.
Application:
Ok so just to make this clear I’m not saying that you can earn your way into heaven by following the commandments. The only way is through Jesus Christ. What I am going to say is that if you know HIM as your LORD and SAVIOR your desires should be changing to line up with what HE wants for you. That being said I know this does not happen overnight for some of us it’s a process. The holy spirit has a lot of work to do to get us to that point. However, from where we started to where we are now. There should be a difference. I have been having a kind of ongoing discussion with a trusted brother and counselor of Christ about satisfaction and how with some it happens right away and with others, it is a process. My point is from the time you started your walk with Jesus until now. Your family and friends should see someone who is not like they used to be. This happens slower for some than it does for others and that’s why grace is so very important. The Holy Spirit has to have time to shape us like Jesus. After all, HE is the author and finisher of our faith. When the perfect comes then we will be made perfect. Until then we should press on toward the upward call of GOD
Prayer:
Father, we trust that you are doing a work in us. We know that sometimes that work takes time, and your grace is needed. However, we also know that YOU have set us apart. You have chosen us and called us by name. YOU have made us for this time. We pray that you will continue to sanctify us placing your word in our hearts so that we know your voice when we hear it. Increase our desire to know you more and the plan you have for us. You are an amazing father and we trust that you are making our faith perfect. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.