Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.'” (Exodus 31:12-13 NIV84)

The Lord told Moses that the children of Israel’s observance of the Sabbath would be a lasting sign that it is the Lord who would make them holy. Too many Christians think that their observance of Christian rituals and practices is what makes them holy. They add up their Sunday worship attendance, attendance at Bible study and their Christian works, slide in an equals sign, and formulate that they are now holy in God’s sight.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves holy before the Lord. We are corrupt, sinful people. Holiness before the Lord is impossible for us. So, how does it happen? Read the verse above one more time. It is not our observance of the Sabbath that makes us holy. It is the God we meet during our observance that makes us holy. When we go to church, we meet a God of grace and compassion who sacrificed His own Son on the cross so that, by His blood, we might be holy in His sight. He makes us holy! Say it one more time: He makes us holy! What is impossible for us is possible with God!

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church