How can we apply the principle of holiness from Ezekiel 45:1 today? The Setting in Ezekiel 45:1 “When you allot the land as an inheritance, you are to present a contribution to the LORD, a portion of the land as a holy district: 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide. This entire area will be holy.” (BSB) Timeless Principle: Set Apart for the Lord • The first and best section of the land was reserved exclusively for God. • Holiness here means “belonging wholly to the LORD,” untouched by common use. • This literal future allotment in the millennial kingdom reveals God’s unchanging demand that His people separate a definitive, identifiable portion of life for Him alone (Leviticus 20:26; Psalm 24:3-4). Living the Principle Today 1. Dedicate the “first share” of every resource • Finances – “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your harvest” (Proverbs 3:9-10). • Time – Begin each day in Scripture and prayer before any other pursuit (Mark 1:35). • Talents – Offer gifts and abilities for ministry prior to personal advancement (1 Peter 4:10-11). 2. Keep holy spaces in ordinary life • Home: create a distraction-free corner for Bible reading and family worship (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). • Schedule: set apart the Lord’s Day for corporate worship and rest (Hebrews 10:24-25; Exodus 20:8-11). 3. Guard personal purity • Body: “You are not your own… therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Media consumption: refuse anything that would profane the mind set apart for Christ (Philippians 4:8). • Relationships: pursue friendships and dating decisions that encourage holiness, not compromise (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). 4. Pursue holiness in the public square • Workplace integrity: work “as for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23-24). • Speech: let words be “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). • Justice and mercy: reflect God’s character in decisions affecting others (Micah 6:8). Guarding the Holy Boundary • Ezekiel’s measurements formed clear borders; likewise set explicit limits—budgets, internet filters, Sabbath margins—to protect what belongs to God. • Compromise begins when boundaries blur; vigilance is an act of love for the One who bought us (Galatians 2:20). Encouragement from the New Testament • “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16). • “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). • “Pursue… holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). The same God who required a holy district empowers believers by His Spirit to live set-apart lives today (Ezekiel 36:27). Putting It Into Practice This Week • Tithe or give a predetermined offering before paying other bills. • Block off the first 20 minutes of each morning for undistracted Scripture reading. • Choose one digital or entertainment habit to consecrate—either remove it or replace it with worship. • Plan Sunday around gathered worship rather than fitting worship around other plans. • Identify one boundary that has slipped and re-establish it for Christ’s sake. A life that deliberately reserves its “holy district” declares, in word and deed, “The LORD is worthy.” |
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