“Make sure you set fire to their carved gods. Don’t get greedy for the veneer of silver and gold on them and take it for yourselves—you’ll get trapped by it for sure. God hates it; it’s an abomination to God, your God. And don’t dare bring one of these abominations home or you’ll end up just like it, burned up as a holy destruction. No: It is forbidden! Hate it. Abominate it. Destroy it and preserve God’s holiness.”
— Deuteronomy 7:25-26 (MSG)
What does it mean to preserve God’s holiness? Simply put, it means intentionally keeping God’s do’s and don’ts. No one can achieve this by the flesh; it is only possible through the help of the Holy Spirit. When we intentionally protect, honor, and set apart the nature God has placed within our spirit, maintaining that clean posture within us, we are preserving His holiness.
Asking for help through prayers to walk in holiness, gladdens God’s heart and such prayers are answered speedily.
To walk in holiness can also be defined as keeping ourselves pure in thought and action according to the Word of God—which serves as the manual and blueprint for our lives.
In this context, the Israelites were commanded to keep and preserve the instructions given to them as they entered the Promised Land. Similarly, what instructions are we being given as we enter a new level? Every new level brings its own battles, which require specific instructions to navigate. Abiding by these instructions is another form of preserving God’s holiness.
Furthermore, as promotion comes, we are warned not to partake in existing worldly patterns or worship other gods. This means we must not exalt material things, affluence, or fame above God, nor should we spend excessive time on the internet at the expense of studying and meditating on His Word (as discussed in our previous message: ARE YOU LIVING BY THE RULES? — PT 2). Bringing these strange acts of worship into our personal spaces will ultimately affect our families negatively.
There is a natural tendency for us to acquire and aspire for more, especially as we step into a new level. We are warned not to be greedy and must therefore be careful not to go overboard or join the crowd in compromising our values for material gain, chasing worldly validation, or indulging in wasteful extravagance. Instead, we must preserve God’s holiness inside of us at all times.
Shalom 🕊️
Bimpe Lawal