I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
Leviticus 11:45 NIV
What comes to mind when you think of the book of Leviticus? Most people probably think of an endless list of sacrifices and a confusing list of laws. A book that they probably avoid as much as possible. And it is indeed a challenging read for us today.
But one of the most common words in the book of Leviticus is holy. This is a book about holiness. It is set in a time and culture that is very different from what most of us experience today. And most of the regulations it specifies do not apply to those following Jesus as Lord. But the principles are still very applicable. These sacrifices and regulations made Israel distinct from the surrounding peoples. They were to be a holy people, set apart for God, not following the practices of the pagan people around them.
Set Apart for God
And that is why we find this verse amid a lengthy chapter on what animals and bugs they were allowed to eat. While there were definite health reasons for these requirements, the primary purpose in following them was simply because God had told them to. Doing so would set them apart from their neighbors. And that is what holiness means. To be set apart, distinct from the common or unclean.
I no longer follow the dietary laws mandated in Leviticus. I do not go to a priest when I have a rash or mold in my house. Nor do I offer animal sacrifices. But I am still to live a holy life, distinct from the world around me. Simply because God is holy. And I am to be like him.
