Holiness

 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
Leviticus 11:44 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/lev.11.44.ESV

Ancient Israel's obsession with clean and unclean foods might seem alien to us. Yet the unclean foods are either unhealthy for us to this day, or else associated with pagan practices of Moses' day. The fact Israel had it's own diet literally set them apart as holy compared to the world around.

Jesus calls for far more than just some external holiness. He knew that what we eat isn't what makes us defiled. What comes out of our hearts makes us defiled, not what goes into our stomachs.

Of course, we should eat healthily. Yet Jesus made clear that it's our evil thoughts like greed, hatred and lust that make us unclean, not bacon butties (thankfully!)! We need God to work on our hearts to make us holy as He is Holy.

How do we become holy? By trusting in the cross of Christ. He bore our unholiness on the cross, and He pours out His Holy Spirit upon us in His resurrection power.

'Lord our God, help us to be holy as You are Holy. Thank You Father for sending Your Son and leaving Your Spirit until Your work with us is done. In Jesus' name, amen'

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