Cost of Holiness

"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the Lord, he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes. All the days of his separation he shall not eat anything that is produced by the grape vine, from the seeds even to the skin. All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long. All the days of his separation to the Lord he shall not go near to a dead person. He shall not make himself unclean for his father or for his mother, for his brother or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the Lord.'" -Numbers 6.2-8

God lays out one of the vows that His people could make, the Nazirite vow. With this a person would dedicate themselves to God, and live a very strict and disciplined life for the time frame of the vow. The Bible only records three examples of this vow being made, Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist. These three men were to be set apart, and with the vow came a filling of the Spirit of God. Samson had great strength to fight for the people. Samuel was a prophet who communicated God's will to the people. John was the one who came before the Messiah to prepare the world for His coming. Each of them had a job to do. Each of them had the Spirit upon him. Each of them was a Nazarite.

If we look at the specifics of this vow it's one that I doubt many of us would take. There is no consumption of alcohol, or other strong drink (that might include coffee). You can't have grapes in any form. I just had a cotton candy grape yesterday, and based on that alone I wouldn't sign up for this. You can't ever cut your hair. After a couple months mine begins to get unruly (it's naturally curly) and I hate dealing with it. If someone you care about dies, you can't go to the funeral. This vow is made so that a person may be separated to God and be holy.

Men, there is a cost to holiness. It isn't something that we can achieve haphazardly or casually. It isn't something we are just going to stumble upon accidently. If we would be holy, we must intentionally pursue it. We must commit ourselves to God, separating ourselves from other distractions, maybe addictions, and focus on God.

I read a book years ago called The One Year Daily Grind. The premise of the book is based around the fact that some people can't function in the morning until they get their coffee, what if we viewed our time with God the same way? What if you gave up your "strong drink" whatever that thing you think you have to have is, and instead picked up the Bible and allowed yourself to be fueled by God?

What if instead of indulging in the pleasures of "grapes" you engaged in worship, and allowed the Spirit of God to fill you and enrich you? What if your greatest delight was found in praising God?

What if instead of "cutting our hair" we ignored our outward appearance, and instead worked to develop our character and integrity? What if we were more concerned about the appearance of our hearts before God than what the mirror says?

What if instead of pouring into relationships that only end in death, we invested our time in the eternal relationship with God? What if our first priority was to grow more intimate with God?

I'm not saying that any of these things are bad. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I know many people who love it. It is a good part of creation, and therefore a gift from God for us. The little, non-sinful, pleasures of life are other good things from God. They are gifts from a loving father to His precious children. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. We are made in the image of God, and taking care of ourselves and looking presentable is a way that we honor Him. Certainly there is nothing wrong with human relationships. God created man and said that it was not good for him to be alone. We were made for fellowship with each other, and that is not to be abandoned.

The question is, what is more important? Do any, or all, of these things have more value to you than God? Does one of these things rule your life, or does God? If we would be holy, the answer must be God.

The Nazarite vow was made for a time, and during that time all of these other things were set aside so that God would be the only focus. Sometimes that time frame was the life of the individual. Are you willing to set aside any of the above things for a time to focus on God? The examples I gave might have no meaning for you, what would? It doesn't have to be forever, maybe a day, or a week, but are you willing to set something aside to draw closer to God?

There is a cost to holiness, and it involves sacrificing something to be able to pursue God more fully. Are we willing to pay that cost?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Sanctified

"You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep My statutes and practice them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you." -Leviticus 20.7-8

Again God tells His people that they are to be holy because He is holy. They are reminded to keep His statutes and practice them. And they are told that God sanctifies them. I grew up in a denomination that emphasized entire sanctification, and over the years I heard a lot of wrong teaching on what sanctification is.

I've heard it described as a sinless perfection, where a person who has been sanctified completely looses the ability to sin. I've heard it described in a way that teaches that a sanctified person can sin, but no longer struggles with it; they make mistakes, but it isn't sin. I've come to understand it as the Holy Spirit working within us to transform us more into the image of Christ. Sanctification is God working in us to make us more like Jesus, and more holy as a result. We never lose the ability to sin, but the more God works in us, the more our desire is to please Him, and we strive to live righteously.

Sanctification is crucial for every Christ follower, it isn't optional. I believe the process begins the moment we enter into new life, and continues until we die. Sanctification is God setting us aside for His own purpose. Our lives need to be spent fulfilling that purpose. Everything that happens is preparation for this task, even the bad things God can redeem and use.

Men, are you being sanctified? Are you allowing God to work in you daily to mold you more into the what He created you to be? This video just came to my mind, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QCkBL2DfVg, that is the point of sanctification.

God has a purpose for you, and He is working to make you fit for it. Are you letting Him? Are you being sanctified?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Who Will We Be

"For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy." -Leviticus 11.45

Chapter 11 talks about animals that are clean and unclean for Israel. The clean they could eat and the unclean they couldn't. But this isn't about a list of do this, don't do that, it's so much more than that. God isn't about a list of do's and don'ts (wow that looks weird, but I googled it and it's right). Faith isn't about actions or works, though they are an important indicator of the sincerity of faith. God isn't about what we do, but rather who we are. God's biggest concern is about the be.

God says that His people are to be holy because He is holy. Holiness is the point, and we don't do holy, we are holy, or not. These things that God is laying out for his people in terms of animals to eat and not eat is to set them apart. That's what holiness is, it's being set apart for God.

Men, holiness is the point, so let us be holy. God has delivered us from the bondage of sin, a figurative Egyptian slavery. He has called us to be His men, set apart and devoted to the work He is doing. More than ever we need to be holy.

I'm just going to spill some thoughts out now, no post editing, just typing and sharing. As I've watched the events of this year unfold, both nationally and globally, I'll be honest that at times I've been scared. I'm legitimately concerned with the future of this nation. Part of me has wondered why I was born in the mid 1980's and have to deal with all of this. But every time my mind wanders there I think of the words of Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Frodo says, "I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened." To which Gandalf replies, "So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought."

We cannot choose what time we are given, simply what to do, or who to be, with the time we are given. God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't do things haphazardly. We were meant to be here now, during this time, and that is an encouraging thought. God intended for us to be here. What will we do with the time that is given to us? Who will we be?

Will we be holy and stand firm against evil and injustice? Will we be set apart, going against the grain of what is popular and easy in pursuit of what is right and holy? Will we be men of God? Who will we be?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

The Holy and the Profane

"The Lord then spoke to Aaron, saying, 'Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die—it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations— and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.'" -Leviticus 10.8-11

Two of Aaron's sons are dead because the defiled God's holy instructions. Moses has instructed Aaron and his sons to remain in the tent of meeting, and not to grieve the death of their family members or they will incur the wrath of God. They follow these instructions, and while in the tent of meeting, God speaks to Aaron.

He shares with him the difference between the holy and the profane, and how there needs to be a distinction that Aaron follows. He must fill his life with the holy and flee from the profane. He is the people's representation before God, called and set apart for this service. His life must reflect the calling upon it.

Men, there really are two things in life, the holy and the unholy. Everything falls into one of those two categories. Either something helps us become more holy, or it makes us less holy. What are you filling your life with? What are you focused on?

The man of God needs to invest his time in the holy. His focus needs to be on what makes him more holy. 1 Thessalonians 5.21-22 tells us, "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The King James says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." We need to not simply avoid what is evil, but flee from the very appearance of evil. If people know we are Christ followers, then we need to do everything we can to avoid even looking evil. Our lives are meant to be beacons of light the shine the truth and love of God. Let us do nothing to dim that light.

Let our lives be fully dedicated to holiness, and let us flee from all that is profane. Let there be no doubt or question of our faith based on how we live. Let all that we do lead us deeper into holiness. Find the holy, flee from the profane.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Righteous, Just, Holy

"You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute." -Exodus 23.2-3

Following the instruction to be holy men, God gives more guidance on how to do that, aside from throwing meat that has been torn to pieces to the dogs. Here the people are told not to follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall they testify on the account of something that prevents justice. Holy men do what is right at all times, not just when it's popular. Holy men, always seek justice.

As I read these words I keep hearing Liam Neeson say the line to the left from Kingdom of Heaven, "Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath." That is how holy men live.

But there is more to holy living than simply doing what is right and protecting justice. Holy men don't show partiality to the poor man simply because he is poor. If his position is just, then stand by him, but don't stand up for him simply because you feel sorry for him. The holy man allows acts in behalf of justice.

Men, are you striving to be holy? do you boldly stand up for what is true instead of what is popular? Do you live righteously and honestly no matter what the cost may be? Do you stand up for those who need help regardless of their social status? God has called you to be holy, let us strive to do what is right.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Holy Men

"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs." -Exodus 22.31

Israel is commanded not to eat meat that has been torn to pieces in the field. They were not to salvage what was left from a lion killing and make stew from it. If an animal had been taken by thieves and butchered, they were not to take the edible parts of what was left and feed their families. Instead they were to throw it to the dogs. It was unfit for human consumption, and so they were to discard it and have nothing to do with it.

Most people who raise animals for food that would not try to salvage and sell/eat the remains of an animal that was killed. The exception would be the guys on the show "Mountain Men" or others like them, who never throw anything away. But most people wouldn't think twice about discarding the remains of a killed and picked over carrcus. Instead I think we can draw a different, and more relevant, message from this verse.

We are still to be holy men to God, and so we are not to consume anything that has been torn to pieces; we are to throw it to the dogs.

Pornography is sex and beauty that has been torn to pieces. It is something God had made good, that sin took and twisted. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Gossip is truth and honor that has been torn to pieces. It takes the truth about someone and smashes it by spreading lies about someone. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Greed is generosity and faith that has been torn to pieces. It lives selfishly, hoarding for itself, father than reaching out to help those in need. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Addiction is self-control torn to pieces. It takes something that may not be bad in and of itself, and makes it the thing we cannot live without. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

... is something else torn to pieces. It takes ... that God had had made good, but sin has twisted it and uses it to ensnare us and pull our focus away from God. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it. Fill in the blanks.

Men, God calls us to be holy to Him, and if we would be holy there are things we must give up and avoid. These things draw us away from God, and cause us to indulge in things that destroy us. Every single one of them is something that God made good, but sin has taken it and twisted it in an effort to pull us away from God.

Let us be strong and resist the temptations that battle for our holiness. Let us throw the flesh of what was once good, but is now torn to pieces by sin, and throw it to the dogs. Let us be holy men of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor