Casandra Martin

I just finished reading Leviticus. After the story-driven narratives of Genesis and Exodus, it is sometimes hard to dive into the lists of laws, dietary restrictions, and sacrifices. There are rules for everything – property sales, relationships, personal hygiene, planting and harvesting crops, and forbidden foods. Sometimes my eyes swim and the page starts to blur as I read command after command that delve deeply into the most personal aspects of Israelite life.

Amid all the lists, rules, commands, and guidelines, it is important to catch the foundation for all of God’s laws. “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” – Leviticus 20:26.

Holiness is at the root of Leviticus. Every law, every command, every rule, and every edict is meant to shape their hearts to reflect the holiness of God Himself. He draws clear lines as boundary markers for holiness. He walks in the middle of their lives to show them how deeply He wants their hearts to be infused with His character. He shows them how to eat, worship, buy and sell, work, and stand in relationships so that every aspect of their lives will catch the rhythm of His righteousness.

Leviticus reminds me of how deeply God wants holiness to penetrate my life. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” – I Peter 1:15. It is the little word all that captures the flavor of Leviticus. He wants every relationship, every transaction, every attitude, every action, and every motive to be defined by holiness. He longs for every snapshot of my life to frame Jesus at its center.

My Jesus Resolution today is to embrace holiness. I am going to remember that God wants to inhabit every part of my day. He longs for holiness to permeate my vision and my choices. He is Lord and I need to bow before Him, giving Him access to every conversation, every decision, and every opportunity. Learning to live the lessons of Leviticus means grasping the deep truth that He is interested in transforming every detail of my heart with His holiness.