21 August 2009 Devotion for Today "Holy to the Lord" Ezra 8:28-30

21 August 2009 Devotion for Today "Holy to the Lord" Ezra 8:28-30

And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.” 30 So the priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God. (Ezra 8:28-30)

Holiness. The term means to separate or to be separate for a life consecrated to the service of God. It also should assume a lifestyle of purity and integrity in ones character. We live in an age that is ready to redefine what these terms mean in order to make them more palatable and acceptable to the masses. Even churches feel the temptation to redefine what holiness means just to keep their doors open. In fact the church doesn't like to use the term holy anymore because they are afraid of giving off the wrong idea. When people think of holy, they no longer think of an upright person who is a person of influence and character. Instead they think of a self-righteous prude who like to stick their nose in other people's business, condemning people of their unholy behavior. This was not the idea of holiness understood by Ezra.

In this passage Ezra reminds the newly consecrated priests that they were holy to the Lord (v. 28) as they resumed the ritual sacrifices in the newly dedicated Temple complex. In this passage they were to watch over the finances of the Temple. Its interesting here that to be holy in this instance meant to be trusted. They were handling a lot of gold and silver- cash that could easily slip through one's fingers. They were never to count the money by themselves, but to do so in front of the other leaders of the Temple. This was to avoid the appearance of evil- which is another quality of holiness. The Apostle Paul discusses this in I Thessalonians 5:22

In this sense, "the appearance of evil" talks about evil that has not happened or is not really evil at all but only seems evil in someone’s eyes! It feeds suspicion. It feeds all the darkness inside us that loves to judge people. It accuses brothers and sisters in the Lord that have done nothing wrong but create an appearance of evil in someone else's eyes! It destroys fellowship and trust. It fosters gossip and talking behind someone's back. It serves to create discord in community and undermines the love that should mark Christians fellowship.

But is holiness more than just trying to avoid suspicion, or is it something more? I believe it stems from a desire to do what is right and reflects a heart that truly loves God. The standard we strive for is the purity of God, not the purity of ourselves as we try to compare ourselves with others. In comparing ourselves with one another we will become self-righteous and legalistic, but in comparing ourselves with God, we will all become equal.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are a holy God. You have said to be holy for I am holy. You expect holiness in me even though the world around me is plunged in filth. Help me to live my life today where I declare my holiness not by my tongue, but by the righteous and obedient life I seek to lead. Help me not to have an attitude of condemnation toward others, but to demonstrate graciousness and love that will attract people to a holy God like You. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Have a blessed and holy day!