READING:
One-year plan: Deuteronomy 22-26
Two-year plan: Job 33, Acts 25:23-26:11
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In today’s reading, God walked among His people to protect them and deliver them from their enemies—so He expected them to walk in purity. The encampment was to be pure because the God who led His people is holy. As one commentator put it, “This affords a clue to the primary purpose of many of these laws. They were a reminder of the holiness of God, a warning against anything that would offend him, and a summons to special standards of behavior in view of Israel’s relationship to him.”*
While the specific regulations applied to the people of that day as they prepared for battle, I am reminded today that the same God who led His people is the God who leads us today – and He’s still holy. No matter how we might try to rationalize our decisions and justify our actions while living in a rebellious world, God’s standards of holiness have not changed. We are to follow Him “carefully with all [our] heart and all [our] soul” (Deut 26:16). Indeed, it’s always good for us to be reminded of these words:
- “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” (Isa 43:15)
- “But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:15-16)
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Are you living a holy life today?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, thank You for Your presence among us and Your call to holiness.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Deuteronomy 27-30
Two-year plan: Job 34-35, Acts 26:12-23
MEMORIZATION VERSE (March 1-15):
“He is your glory and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.” (Deut 10:21)
Chuck Lawless
Vice-President for Spiritual Formation and Ministry Centers
Dean of Doctoral Studies
Senior Professor of Evangelism and Missions
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
919.761.2104 | www.sebts.edu | visit us
