Learning to be Holy

Learning to be Holy

(Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Action”

Series Title:  “Kindness in the Wilderness”

February 26^th, 2023

Something to think about:

As we close out our series today entitled “Kindness in the Wilderness,” we close with this theme of holiness.  Over the past few weeks we have been exploring the 40-years of wilderness wanderings of the Israelites.  They had been punished by GOD for their rebellion and lack of faith, and now that the older generation has died off, Moses is instructing the next generation on what GOD desires as they enter the Promised Land.  In chapter 18 of Deuteronomy, Moses lays out plainly and clearly what they are not to do when they enter the land.  What they are to do is to remain faithful and set apart for GOD and His purposes.  Though they may be prone to influences by the surrounding pagan nations, they are to remain steadfast and focused on the LORD their GOD.  Let’s take a look at his instructions to them:

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (NLT),

⁹ “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.  ¹⁰ For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.  And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, ¹¹ or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.  ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.  It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.  ¹³ But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.  ¹⁴ The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

The famed 19^th century pastor and evangelist D. L. Moody said, “A holy life will make the deepest impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”

GOD knew the Israelites would be tempted to leave Him and follow other pagan practices of the nations that surrounded them.  He knew how impressionable they were and how susceptible they were to outside influences.  He also knew how ready they were to rebel against Him when difficulties arose, and when things didn’t go their way.  That’s why GOD gave them very clear directives before they entered the land.  It is the kindness of GOD to clearly lay out expectations for them before they move out of the wilderness and into the land of promise.

Here’s the takeaway:

Key Point:  “True kindness isn’t the absence of correction or instruction, it’s the presence of all holiness.”

How does one learn to be “holy”?  Doesn’t it just happen naturally when a person surrenders their life to GOD through belief in Jesus?  Or does it require something else?  Let’s consider the following with regard to the instructions of Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land:

• Holiness is  .

To be surrendered to GOD is the first step in the process of being made holy as GOD is holy.

• Holiness is  .

To be separate from the world is the means by which a person exhibits holiness to the world around them.

• Holiness is  .

To be steady in our faith is the way in which we continue to be holy as GOD is holy.

Something to take home:

Nineteenth-century Scottish theologian, John Brown, wrote, “Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervors, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.”[1] 

Do you think as GOD thinks and will as GOD wills?  Being holy as GOD is holy is a process.  It takes one step at a time, and each of those steps successively move toward a holy and righteous GOD.  And those steps are not met without difficulty.  The path to the Kingdom of GOD is a path of holiness, but it is narrow and difficult.[2]  It’s not narrow and difficult because GOD makes it that way, it’s narrow and difficult because we live in a fallen and broken world that beckons us to follow it.  It’s narrow and difficult because of the attraction and deception of the world around us.  It’s narrow and difficult because few people ever find it only as a result of never really looking for it in the first place.

GOD’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, and in repentance we learn what it means to truly surrender to GOD, become separate from the world, and walk the path of faith with steady determination and hope.

We can only be holy as GOD is holy when we are willing to surrender completely to GOD through Christ.  Then and only then does GOD look at us through the lens of Christ which is our means of grace and the covering of our multitude of sin.

Key Point:  “True kindness isn’t the absence of correction or instruction, it’s the presence of all holiness.”

[1] John Brown, Nineteenth-century Scottish theologian, quoted in J. Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, p. 51.

[2] Matthew 7:13-14.