What practices today help maintain holiness as described in Exodus 22:31? The Call to Holiness “ ‘You are to be My holy people. Therefore you must not eat the flesh of any animal torn by wild beasts; you shall throw it to the dogs.’ ” (Exodus 22:31) The Timeless Principle • God marks His people as distinct. • Holiness involves refusing what defiles, whether physically, morally, or spiritually. • New-covenant believers still carry the command: “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). How the Principle Translates Today While the specific restriction on torn meat pointed to ceremonial cleanness, the core issue was separation from corruption. The same heart-posture guides believers now: Practices That Guard the Body • Honor God with healthy habits; “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Flee sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3). • Avoid mind-altering substances and gluttony that dull spiritual alertness (Proverbs 23:20-21). Practices That Guard the Mind • Daily Scripture intake and meditation (Psalm 1:2; Colossians 3:16). • Filter entertainment; choose what is “true … noble … pure” (Philippians 4:8). • Take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Practices That Guard Relationships • Cultivate honesty and integrity (Ephesians 4:25). • Forgive quickly (Ephesians 4:32). • Keep close fellowship with believers who sharpen holiness (Hebrews 10:24-25). Practices That Guard Worship and Service • Set apart the Lord’s Day for gathered worship (Acts 20:7). • Offer generous, undefiled giving (2 Corinthians 9:7). • Serve with clean hands and pure motives (Psalm 24:3-4). Everyday Decisions That Mark Us as Holy • Speak words that build up, not tear down (Ephesians 4:29). • Maintain financial integrity—no cheating, no shady deals (Romans 13:7-8). • Care for the vulnerable; “keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). • Practice visible humility and modesty, reflecting inward purity (1 Peter 3:3-4). A Closing Charge “Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Holiness is not a moment but a lifestyle. Reject what contaminates; embrace what glorifies. God’s people remain set apart—radiant, unmistakably His. |
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