“And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves.
It shall be for you holy to the LORD.”
Exodus 30:37
Reading this statement made me wonder – what do I have that is set aside as holy to the Lord? A piece of my life that’s just for Him, emphasizing His worth and holiness in its exclusivity?
Then it occurred to me: my whole life is to be like that. Every piece.
Because when I was recreated in Christ, made alive through salvation after my soul had been dead in my sins, my life was set apart (Ephesians 2:4-10).
I am not my own; I was bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). A price that was inexpressibly high, costing the life of the perfect, holy, infinite Son of God. The very blood of Jesus Christ bought me.
I am holy to the Lord. Set apart. One who is among the people for His own possession (Titus 2:11-14). Ransomed for God (Revelation 5:9).
Ransomed from sin and death and captivity and darkness and emptiness – but not for myself. For Him.
Yes, there is joy here. There is fullness. There is blessing. But all of it ultimately points not to me; it points to Him. And because I was created to find purpose and joy and life in worshiping and glorifying my Creator, my soul rejoices in magnifying His grace and majesty.
Abundant life, fullness of joy, fulfillment in purpose – these are found in living out my life as holy to the Lord.
No longer living for myself.
He’ll take care of my needs; I don’t need to worry about that. I just live for Him.
In my relationships, in my work, in my schooling, in my interactions, in everything I do – living for Him, not for myself.
I am set apart, holy to the Lord. That is what I am, as is every believer in Christ. I need to live like it.
That’s at the root of Paul’s instruction to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). We have been called to faith, to glory, to the position of ambassadors for God and sent out with His gospel of hope. Called to this holy, set apart life. Ready for an adventure that is much bigger than we are, because our God calls us into plans that require His greatness, wisdom, and might to accomplish.
That is where our life is found. That is where we live most authentically and discover freedom and purpose in the person God has designed us to be. Filling the roles He designed for us, realizing the surpassing joy in living in wholehearted abandon to the Lord.
Holy to the Lord. Set apart. Radiant over His goodness, rejoicing in the dance, running in the paths of His commands, for He has ransomed us, redeemed us from hands too strong for us, and set our hearts free (Jeremiah 31:11-13; Psalm 119:32).
In Pleasant Places 