Sometimes holiness can appear entirely too holy, unapproachable, unattainable, untouchable even; especially as depicted in art and movies. Holy as an adjective describes the condition of the noun. In the Bible, holy is a condition based entirely on relationship to the Lord. In Leviticus 19:2 the Lord says to Israel,

קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ:  כִּי קָדוֹשׁ, אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

Each evening and morning I thank the Lord for life and salvation, for using me in the unfolding revelation of His will on earth in even the smallest of ways. Knowing that He has sanctified and saved me in His Son by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), it could seem a daunting task to get out of bed and face the turbulence of the day and not make Him look bad, heaven forbid! Yet, that is exactly what He is expecting us to do.

Holiness is not stillness or disconnection from life, and the turbulence of the day; but rather, even more profound connection with it, answering His call to be holy in life as He is holy.

How? Imitating God, by following Messiah, as beloved children (Eph. 5:1-2) means that we are in a battle to subdue our very human urges to behave in a manner incompatible with His character. Often, it is the witness to this struggle, His grace in action, that draws others to His holy mountain; after all, if He can do a miracle in me, why not you or them?

Here is the good news:

1. In Messiah there is assurance of acceptance and renewal.

2. The Messiah sent the Holy Spirit to prepare, make holy, and strengthen His Bride.

3. The command in Leviticus 19:1-2, echoed in I Peter 1:16, reveals that in faith holiness is attainable, yet not in ourselves or by our strength.

4. Holiness in daily life is the outworking of the condition of the inward, renewed man as we face the trials of today.

Let us, then, be thankful for the relationship with the Father that makes us holy, and the gift of the Holy Spirit who continues to conform us to the image of God’s Son (Ro. 8:29)in holiness.

Waking up holy does not mean that you will behave perfectly today, but that today offers more opportunities to smooth out the yet jagged edges of your life by His grace – and as long as there is grace, the mercy of the Potters hand is still at work.

Be well; shalom.

In Exodus 12:2 the Lord says to Israel:

הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים

“This month shall be to you the beginning of months…”

Insignificant? This time marker for the month of Nissan (March/April on our calendar) reveals something vital – freedom. The Lord issued a command, because Israel would now be free.

Those in bondage do not manage their own time, it is managed, or dare I say, it is the possession of someone else. Yet, the Lord returning time, and therefore life to Israel, is also instruction them to manage their time, and their lives wisely.

The gift of time is a gift of life. The Lord established markers in time: new moons, festivals and Shabbat not only to mark the year, but to refresh our lives.

A new week, a new month, or a new season breaks up the seeming unending sameness. Why? Because without these reminders of freedom, we become enslaved once again; perhaps not to a pharaoh, but to the mocking monotony of the doldrums.

“This shall be the beginning of months for you…” this shall be the beginning of sanctifying time, recognizing it as a holy gift, and using it to improve not only your own life but the community around you.

In 2020 so much was taken away from us, but the Lord has given us the gift of time. Now, as people free in Him, how shall we use it?

That, I leave to you. Use your imagination.

Be well; shalom.

To drive forward in a vehicle you cannot look only in the backward facing mirror; rather, you glance at it as you travel forward.

In the faith life, it is such a temptation to look only in the rearview mirror as we travel the road with the Lord.

If this is our condition we are merely archivists and curators of faith. Hebrews 11 dismisses this type of faith; as they too, well aware of where the Lord had brought them from, were ever mindful of where they were going: a land and a city prepared by God.

We are therefore all links in the transmission of the Word of God, שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת/Shalshelet, meaning a chain. In the cantillation of the Torah, the שַׁלְשֶׁ֓לֶת/Shalshelet is a note sung, among the least common notes of the Torah melody, used only four times.

What do we learn? We are called to a living and, in these days it seems, an uncommon faith. Looking to the past in glances that help us move forward, while allowing the Living Word to go before us; as the Word is living, and still speaking of things unfolding and yet to be.

So hold on to that uncommon, new song, or perhaps just a single note that sounds, drawing the attention of the ears called to hear as you travel on the road of faith.

Meditation: Hebrews 11:13-16.

Be well; shalom.