Blessings Pt.2

Psalm 111:7-8 [7] “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure. [8] They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness.”

God says that His precepts are sure, upheld forever and ever. Let’s take a look at the definition of the word precept.

Precept

1. a commandment or direction given as a rule of action or conduct.

2. an injunction as to moral conduct; maxim.

a procedural directive or rule, as for the performance of some technical operation.

3.Law.

a. a writ or warrant.

b. a written order issued pursuant to law, as a sheriff's order for an election.

So the precepts of God that are upheld forever and ever are His commandments, directions, rules, laws, and written orders.

Psalms 19:7-11 [7] "The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. [8] The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. [9] The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. [10] They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. [11] Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

Listen to what verse 11 from Psalm 19 has to say, by the law of God we are warned, and in keeping His law there is great reward. It is the law of God that instructs us on how to behave or conduct ourselves in such a manner that is pleasing to God. It is also the law of God that instructs us in holiness. God commands that we be holy, because He Himself is holy.

Leviticus 20:7-8 [7] “You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. [8] And you shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

Let’s look at the definition of consecrate.

Consecrate

1. To declare or set apart as sacred.

God is commanding us to set ourselves apart as sacred to Him. The definition of sanctify is to set apart for sacred use; consecrate. It’s also to make holy or purify. God is the one who sanctifies us. He tells us that it is the keeping of His statutes and practicing them that makes us holy, purifies us, and sets us apart from the rest of the people of the world.

The law, statutes, ordinances and precepts were given in order to teach the Jews about God and His holiness. Christ kept every aspect of the Law, and died sinless in order to be the perfect unblemished sacrifice for us as the Lamb of God. He also told His disciples to keep all of the law. The standards, cleanness, values, morals, righteousness, goodness, and holiness of God which we receive from His law do not change.

God's standard for holiness has not changed, nor has His standard for righteousness changed. The blood of Christ which gives us, both God's holiness and righteousness through faith, is also God's standard for sin. God's standard for holiness is the same as it has always been. The holiness of God is complete. It is perfect. It does not change, grow, evolve, or do anything new.

Malachi 3:6 "For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed."

Being consecrated, sanctified, set apart, and holy, means being special. This is true for God and this is true for us as well because He commands it of us. This means being different from the rest of the peoples of the world. Being holy and set apart means dressing differently, eating differently, and acting differently.

Leviticus 11:44-45 [44] “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. [45] For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; thus you shall be holy for I am holy.”

Let’s listen again to the first part of Leviticus 11:44 [44] “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy.”

I am the Lord your God, I say so, I am in charge. Set yourselves apart and be holy, different, special, and noticeable.

Now the second part, “You shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.” Listen to what the definition of unclean means.

Unclean

1. foul or dirty.

2. morally defiled.

3. ceremonially impure.

The holiness standard of God has not changed. The world may change but God does not. What was once declared unclean and unholy is still unclean and unholy. All of the sins that are listed in the books of the Law according to Moses are still sin. The same sin that has the penalty for death in the days of Moses, carries the penalty of death today. God’s holiness is eternal.

Leviticus 20:24-26 [24] "Hence I have said to you, "You are to possess their land and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God who has separated you from the peoples. [25] You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean. [26] Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine."

God tells us that He has separated us from the peoples to be His. Part of being His means being holy. As God has separated us from the peoples to be His, we also must separate ourselves from the world and the ways of the world.

Do not hang out with the people of the world unless you are spreading the Gospel of Christ. Yes, Jesus hung out with tax-gatherers and sinners, but He was also preaching the Gospel of the kingdom.

Proverbs 1:10, 15 [10] "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." [15] "My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path."

Proverbs 2:20 [20] "So you will walk in the way of good men, and keep to the paths of the righteous."

Spend time in God's word! Listen to what God has to say and not the world. Study the Law of God. It is from the law of God that we get knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Joshua 1:7-8 [7] "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. [8] This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."

It is the law of God that instructs us on how to live in such a manner that is pleasing to Him. Hey, that's enough for today. If you enjoyed this material, and think it would be a blessing to someone, please share.

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Until next time, keep Christ first, and may God bless you.