Exodus 22: Be Holy

“You are to be my holy people.” -Exodus 22:31

Many of the laws of the Old Testament make no sense to us. Rules about which animals to eat, what clothing to wear, and what oils to burn in the tabernacle sound like a page right out of The Lord of the Rings. Yet God does reveal one of his enduring principles in Exodus 22:31: “You are to be my holy people.”

What does it mean to be a holy person? Does it require fasting, observing the Sabbath, or certain clothing? Romans 12:1-2 offer the New Testament’s perspective: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2). Holiness is a matter of the heart.

Holiness is also God’s will. God does not extend his grace so we can do as we please. He does it so we can live to please him.

Today, remember God’s call to be holy. Give him your whole heart and fully embrace the call to live for the One who can change your life now and for eternity.

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Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.