Deuteronomy 14:2
Moses declared: “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.”
The word ‘holy’ means something that is special. Moses wanted the people of Israel to know they were so special to God that they needed to live a life that was distinct from the people around them. They were to ensure that all that they did was pleasing to him. They followed strict dietary rules and ensured that they did everything possible to avoid getting mixed up in other religions. They belonged to the God of Israel and only to him. They were his own special treasure.
When Peter wrote his first letter, he used very similar language to describe the Church. In 1 Peter 2:9, he wrote: “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
The Church has not been called to offer the sacrifices that the people of Israel were commanded to give. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross has made them unnecessary. And the Church is no longer required to follow meticulous dietary laws. But Christians are still called to be holy. Our lives are not to be shaped by the world’s morality and materialism, but by God.
Living holy lives is never easy. Every day our society pressures us to be shaped by its goals and values. We need to keep close to the Lord and ensure his Spirit is guiding our decisions and actions. As J B Phillips put it in his famous translation of Romans 12:2: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.”
Question - In what ways do you stand up to society’s pressures to conform to its moral and materialistic expectations?
Prayer - Loving God, thank you that your Spirit is helping to remould my mind. Help me to be strong in living for you today. Amen

Released on 25 Sep 2023