Devotional: Live a Holy Life: Deuteronomy 7

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6, NASB).

What does it mean to be holy? What is required of me so that I am holy? When I was growing up I was told that holy people, also known as sanctified people, were those that were members of a church group that had characteristics different from other church groups and people living in the world with no church affiliations. If you wanted to be holy you could not drink (alcoholic beverages), smoke cigarettes, curse, and listen to worldly music, and dance. Now, I believe that these restrictions might have some value, but I do not believe that these are requirements for salvation. If these were requirements for salvation, it would mean that we have to earn our salvation through works. The scriptures teach us that salvation is not by works, but is a gift of God’s grace made available to those who exercise faith in Jesus Christ (See Acts 2:37-39; Eph. 2:8-9).

In Deuteronomy Moses describes the life of the ones that would be holy. Moses is not telling the people what they need to do in order to go to heaven. Rather, Moses is telling the Israelites the manner in which they are to live in order to have success in the land that the Lord God is giving to them. Moses is giving the people laws and commandments to follow that will give them victory over the natives of the land (7:1-5).

The Lord is their only God. The different people groups that live in the land have their own gods. Israel must not identify with these people and their gods. The Israelites are not to make a covenant with the people of the land. Especially, they are not to intermarry with the people of the land. This restriction is not based on skin color, ethnic group, race, or nationality. The restriction is given so that the Israelites will not make covenant with the people and turn to their gods. If they follow the lifestyles of the native people living in the land, and worship their gods they will suffer the same disadvantages in crop production, health, and growth. They are to separate themselves from the other people so that they will receive the blessing from the Lord their God.

I must live a holy life if I want to receive the blessing of the Lord. I cannot compromise with other gods; make covenants with other people that do not believe in the Lord my God. You see, the ways of the Lord are not compatible with the ways of men in the world. If I want to receive the Lord’s blessings, I must separate myself from those that disobey the Lords. I am not better than others. I separate myself because the Lord has chosen me to be holy.

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful that you chose me to be holy; separated unto you. Amen.