Because He is Holy and He is the LORD.

The Lord also said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Leviticus 19:1-2 NLT

I think I mentioned we're reading the Bible in chronological order this year. It's been very eye-opening, but also a little stressful. I'm glad that we only have a few days left in the book of Leviticus... However, God being Who He is, He has placed the perfect amount of encouragement in the midst of laying down the law (for which I am extremely grateful). The other part of that is we must come with our hearts and minds open and focused to receive His Word or we might not see the nuggets.

When I was younger, our Promise for Today used to strike fear into my heart because I didn’t fully understand what holy was, I just knew I wasn’t it. But when I came to realize that it is being set apart for God, consecrating my life – formally declaring that my life is to be lived for God - I could breathe without fear of being forever condemned to hell. And then I was further strengthened when in Chapter 20 the same God who instructs us to set ourselves apart to be holy also declares that He is the Lord who MAKES us holy. What a loving God…

Leviticus 20:7-8 NLT, "So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. 8 Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy."

Back to Ch 19: 9-10

I ADORE the heart of God to always provide for those who lack monetary means. 9 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. 10 It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God."

Teaching us to be givers and to be generous as He is. And ALWAYS reminding us in each regulation that He is the LORD and the inference is that we are to be like Him in all HIS ways.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Word. We pray as the Bible Recap teaches us to pray. Please give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Let any knowledge we gain help us to love You and others more and let us not be puffed up. Daily as we read Your Word, help us see something new about You that we've never seen before. Correct any lies we may have believed about You and please correct any misunderstandings. Direct our steps, according to Your Word. We want to know You better and love You more. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen