7th Sunday after Epiphany
Scripture: Leviticus
19:1-2, 9-18
The book of Leviticus contains many of the laws and rules
that governed the lives of the Israelites, particularly in the areas of worship
and sacrifices, and, more broadly, in holy living. This particular passage
commanded Israel to be holy because of their relationship with God, and
describes holy behavior through one’s actions for one’s neighbor. The Gospel
lesson this week (Matt 5:38-48) echoes God’s command for holiness among his
people which is found in this reading, and together they cause us to consider
our actions in regard to other people as well as think about how the believer
becomes holy.
Teaching
There is a misconception that some people have when they
consider holiness that impacts how we understand this reading. The
misconception is that our behavior is what makes us holy. The truth is that it
is God who makes people holy. This begins with salvation. God had saved Israel
from slavery in Egypt. He has saved us from sin and death through Jesus’ death
and resurrection. That salvation makes us holy. From that salvation our
behavior is to change to reflect the character of our God and Savior and to
reveal him to others through our actions.
We display holiness to the world in how we treat others. We
are holy so we act accordingly. While deeds do not earn God’s love, favor, or
salvation, they do reflect his love, favor, and salvation. It is as though,
having been blessed by God, we have become a conduit through which he blesses
others. Those blessings often take place in caring for the physical well-being
of others. In many ways this passage can also be summed up in the Golden Rule: “[W]hatever
you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” (Matt. 7:12).
Life
There is an old expression that says, “Don’t be so heavenly
minded that you are of no earthly good.” While we certainly want to be people
of prayer, students of God’s Word, and spiritually aligned with God’s Will,
those things play out in the lives of real people. We should not over emphasize
activities that we call “spiritual” to the point where we no longer care about
people’s physical needs. Remember God created people with bodies and helping to
meet people’s physical needs is good and holy.
Consider how you interact with others. Do your actions
reflect that the Lord your God is holy? Do your actions reflect his love,
justice, mercy, and compassion? Confess your sins to Jesus and be forgiven –
which makes you holy – and by the power of his Holy Spirit try to live a life
that reflects your Savior to the people around you so they may glorify God.
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