“You shall be holy, for the LORD your God am holy.” Leviticus 19.2

God’s purpose for Israel was to be holy, to reflect His own being and character to the world around them. The Law of God was given so that they might be formed, soul and body, inner person and outer, to refract the glory of God to the world and so draw the nations to Him. Israel was called to be holy, and the holy and righteous and good Law of God was the means for them to express that holiness in every aspect of their lives.

God’s purpose for His people has not changed: “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7.1). But Christ Jesus is the end of the Law for holiness and righteousness to all who believe (Rom. 10.4).

We look to Jesus to teach us and empower us for doing, walking in, serve God through, and keeping all the Law. As we look to Him and cast ourselves on Him, His Spirit forms Jesus in and through us, so that we become holy by Jesus living His life in and through us. We have nor ever can attain any holiness of our own. We are called to be holy, and we can be holy only in Jesus Christ. As we do what Jesus did, walk the way Jesus walked, serve the Lord as He did, and keep His commandments, we are formed for holiness, which comes to expression in everything we do unto the praise and glory of God (1 Cor. 10.31).

T. M. Moore

For more insight to the nature of God’s Covenant, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store. Visit our website, www.ailbe.org, and sign up to receive our thrice-weekly devotional, Crosfigell, featuring writers from the period of the Celtic Revival and T. M.’s reflections on Scripture and the Celtic Christian tradition.