Week 37: Holy Portion
Weekly Reading:
Ezekiel 43 - Daniel 12
Opening Prayer
Father God,
We praise You for taking care of us, for Your provision. Father, You provide peace, You provide grace, You provide forgiveness. Father, grant us the wisdom to do the same. Give us patience and understanding so that we may extend the love You provide.
Amen
Study
A holy portion, allotment, to set apart, or reserve: God speaks to us often about saving for God what is His. In Ezekiel 45:1-8, God again tells His people to reserve for God what is his: this time not by way of time, or Sabbath, but by land.
God commands a portion of the new Jerusalem be reserved as holy, 8-1/3 miles x 6-2/3 miles or 25,000 cubits (Ezekiel 45:1). God commands the entire area be kept holy as He did with Moses when describing the tabernacle and as He did with David and Solomon in describing the temple. Holy areas were sanctified, not to be used for any other purpose than for God’s glory.
Similarly, God asked us to keep our lives holy, set apart, and reserved for his glory. God calls us to be holy in I Peter 1:13-16 by expressing self-control (I Peter 1:13), looking forward to the gracious salvation provided by Jesus Christ (verse 13), living in obedience (verse 14), not slipping back into your old self which was disobedient and satisfied with our own desires (verse 14). As stated by God, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44 and I Peter 1:16).
We are called to be set apart so that others would know Christ through our love.
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
Colossians 3:12-13 NLT
“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthews 5:16 NLT
However, because we were called (I Corinthians 7:17) and because we were given grace (2 Corinthians 12:9), though we were sinners yet (Romans 5:8), we are to keep ourselves pure and reserved for God‘s purpose. In that, we must avoid sin and carefully choose whom we associate with, carefully contemplate the motives of others, and discerning behavior as either biblical or worldly so that we are not tempted to stray.
Set apart
Reserve
Just as the land of the tabernacle was set apart and reserved, turn our desire toward God for God’s glory.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Thank you for your patience with me as I learn more about you and work to be more like You, loving like You love, providing grace as You do, and being more present in my walk with You. Father, please continue to work on me and break my heart for what breaks Yours.
Amen
Homework
Where are you today in your walk with God?
Are you keeping your life’s choices holy for God?
