Monday April 23, 2012

Read Deuteronomy 13:1-11

 

To be set apart or to ‘be holy’ basically means to be dedicated to something. Different groups and different things could be set apart for almost anything. The Bible speaks about being holy or set apart to or for something or someone. That which something is set apart to or for, determines the character of that which is set apart.

 

Since Israel was set apart to the Lord, ie holy to the Lord by virtue of her election and God-ordained choosing, she was to be holy as God is holy. She was to reflect the image of her God.

 

The basic rule of thumb for Israel was that anything or anyone that pulled the people away from worshipping the Lord was to be removed.  People who encouraged false worship and idolatry were to be killed.  What we’re seeing is the incredible and indescribable holiness of God who refuses to play second fiddle to statues and icons and false gods.

 

Imagine if you and I had the same rule of thumb in our own lives and in the life of our churches - that anyone or anything that lessened our worship of God and devotion to God, would be immediately removed. We don’t advocate killing but removal. I wonder for how long we would have our TVs, our smart phones and our computers? How many preachers would be asked to leave our churches? How many buildings would be torn down? How many cars would be sent to the scrap heap and how many bank accounts would be emptied?

 

It’s not a hard principle to understand. A mother nursing a new baby makes sure there are no stinging or biting insects near her baby. False prophets bring a sting and bite to the nation of Israel. A car enthusiast cleans his garage to make sure that nothing scratches his car as he pulls in and reverses out of the garage. The false prophets would greatly damage Israel and had to be removed. A careful father makes sure there are no poisons in reach of his children. The false prophets were poisonous and deadly to the nation of Israel.

 

Can we together make that rule of thumb a rule in our own lives?  If

something pulls you away from God, seek to get rid of it. If something lessens your love of God, take drastic measures to remove that threat and danger. If something causes you to walk away from God, even if only for a brief moment, remove that threat as soon as possible.

 

Prayer:

¥ Pray that God’s people would reflect the character of our God and be holy as He is holy. Pray that this would occur at a personal level for all the Christians you know and at a church level, at a denominational level and as a nation. Pray that the holiness of Christians across Australia would speak volumes to a lost and desperate world.

¥  Pray for the Cranes as they work with PIM. Pray that God would continue to grant them travelling mercies and that they would have an effective outreach as they build relationships on stations, among outback towns and across the various regions they travel. Pray for encouragement and perseverance.