How can we apply the principle of holiness in our daily lives? The Foundation of Holiness “‘This is the law of the temple: all its territory on the top of the mountain, all around, shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple.’” (Ezekiel 43:12) Connecting Thread Through Scripture • Leviticus 19:2 — “You are to be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” • 1 Peter 1:15-16 — “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” • 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 — A call to separate from what defiles because God dwells among His people. Understanding the Temple Boundary Today • In Ezekiel, the mountain-top area was declared “most holy,” teaching that God marks out space for Himself. • Under the new covenant, believers themselves are the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16); every area of life belongs to Him. • Therefore, holiness is not a single compartment but the border that surrounds everything we are and do. Daily Choices That Reflect God’s Holiness • Set-apart time: Guard a daily portion for Scripture and prayer as intentionally as Israel guarded temple courts. • Speech: Let words be seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6); avoid gossip, coarse joking, or half-truths. • Integrity in work: Colossians 3:23 — work “with all your heart, as working for the Lord,” refusing shortcuts or dishonesty. • Purity of body: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 — abstain from sexual immorality, honoring God with our bodies. • Stewardship: Handle money, possessions, and creation itself as belonging to the Lord (Psalm 24:1). Guarding Heart and Mind • Philippians 4:8 provides a “thought filter” — whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable. • Practical helps: – Place Scripture cards in visible spots. – Limit media that normalizes sin. – Memorize verses that target recurring temptations (Psalm 119:11). Holiness Lived in Community • Hebrews 10:24-25 — meet together to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. • Accountability friendships: Share struggles, celebrate victories; iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). • Corporate worship: Like the temple courts, gathering magnifies God’s distinct presence among His people. Motivation: The Nearness of God • Ezekiel’s temple vision ends with “The LORD Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35). Holiness is sustained not by rule-keeping but by delight in God’s abiding presence. • John 14:23 — “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” • Savoring His presence transforms holiness from duty into joy. Putting It All Together • Holiness begins with acknowledging every corner of life as God’s territory. • It grows through deliberate, Spirit-empowered choices that set us apart from a fallen world. • It flourishes in community, fueled by awareness that the Holy One Himself dwells with and within us. |
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