February 10
Ex 30:11-31:18 | PS 32:1-11 Pro 8:27-32 | Matt 26:47-68
Holiness is crucial to the person of God. It means to be set apart for Him. It means to be in the world, but not of the world. This does not mean to isolate oneself as the monks of old, but instead, to be part of the remnant dedicated to God rather than the majority who are not. Many envision holiness as that super-pious, self-righteous individual who never smiles, is always serious, but nothing could be farther than the truth. Holiness, or being set apart for God makes His disciples the most joyous of all, the most unaffected by the latest headlines. With eyes on Jesus rather than the world, the course is set, and peace comes no matter what that course might look like when one remains in holiness on that course. David, the man after God's own heart was set apart, but lost his way for a season. You can never hide from God yet hide is what he tried to do. In the end, after his confession, he resumed his walk of holiness as we read in Psalm 32:5,8,10: "Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment...The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you...Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord." From that last verse, realize that all who choose to remain in the majority, who have no desire to seek godliness and holiness, might seem pleasant and good, but are seen as wicked by the only Judge that knows the heart and can judge with absolute truth: God, Himself.
The walk of holiness from a human perspective is often not easy, as exemplified by the only Person, Jesus, who embodies perfect holiness, holiness in its purest form. Jesus had at His disposal anything possible to alter the course of events, but the road of holiness would not be thwarted, as we read in Matthew 26:53-54, "Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” A stance of holiness often leads to being isolated, even being abandoned by those closest to you, as we read in 26:56, "...At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled." Holiness often leads to being misrepresented and mischaracterized, as we see in 26:59-61, "Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death. But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, they could not use anyone’s testimony. Finally, two men came forward who declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Being further isolated in holiness will often embolden the masses who see themselves in authority and power to even take more aggressive stances against that which is holy, as we read in 26:67-68, "Then they began to spit in Jesus’ face and beat him with their fists. And some slapped him, jeering, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?”
Lest one miss this call to holiness, we should look back to the calling on the priests from the law being handed down through Moses. The priests were called to prepare themselves as they worshipped and served God, as we read in Exodus 30:19-21, "Aaron and his sons will wash their hands and feet there. They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord—or they will die! They must always wash their hands and feet, or they will die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants, to be observed from generation to generation.” What is holy should never be made common and vice versa as we read of the holy incense in 30:38, "Anyone who makes incense like this for personal use will be cut off from the community.” We should never take our walk of holiness unprepared or haphazard. As we read in the Great Commission, Jesus seeks disciples, not believers. We cannot water down the message of salvation or God's call to holiness. This message was not popular then, and it is not popular now. There has always been a tendency to soften the message, make it more palatable so that one can navigate walking with one foot in both worlds, but this has never been God's calling for His children. A decision must be made to repent and follow Him, and after that decision, another decision must be made, one of a walk of holiness. We are still in this flesh, but may we keep short accounts, and remain steadfast and vigilant with our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the race, on whatever course He has chosen for us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: