The Word of God clearly deals with every area of our daily life. We have in our reading, what the LORD spoke to Moses, (Lev 19:1) on the laws regarding the moral, religious and social responsibilities of the children of God. When we see it today, the era has changed, generations have gone by; the setting has totally altered-but the word of God “…is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Ps.119:89). The principle contained in those laws are still applicable for us.
    
God chose Abraham and his generation and made a covenant with them and blessed them; further, God tells them- "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." (Exodus 3:6). They valued this prestigious, precious position- Moses tells them - “What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:16). In Deut. 4:37: “And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them…”  In our text, after each law, it is stated that “I am the LORD.” This statement is repeated fifteen times in this chapter reminding them that it is the LORD GOD who gave them everything. As children of God we always need to remember the same and conduct our lives accordingly.

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Our key verse speaks of being holy. The word “holy” means consecrated for God or set a part for a specific purpose. Through the Scriptures we understand that God was separating a group of people to whom He gave the Law; God showed His marvellous ways through them and He worked among them. Or in other words, God was showing the nations His plans and purposes for mankind through His chosen people. Today each child of God is given the responsibility to represent Him: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Peter 2:9). Through Jesus Christ, we received a privileged position - adoption to sonship to call, "Abba, Father." (Rom.8:15). What a marvellous plan! - but always remember the One who gave us all things and glorify Him.

 

The essence or the connecting part of all these Laws was –Love. If these Laws are adhered to ritually or under compulsion, it never pleases God. Trying to be holy by force or trying to make it happen with strict laws is a practice followed by many—it is only for a time and an outward expression; it doesn’t last. Here the call for being holy is not just for hours or days; it’s for an entire lifetime—in public and in private. If our giving reverence to the Lord, stems out of fear or being afraid of any punishment— it doesn’t please God. From our text, we can understand that all the laws given need to be followed only based on Love. The Word of God clearly states:- “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1John 4:8)

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In our personal life too, we tend to remember those who give us genuine love, which is un-adulterated— it still leaves the fragrance of good memories in our lives. To such who show us the pure love from God, we would love to spend time, be with them.  Without this love we can’t share the pure gospel; we can’t reach out to people, we can’t serve, we can’t be a testimony to others. May God strengthen each of us to become a fragrance of His Love- through our words, actions and our entire life. In this way, many will find the loving Lord our God!

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To Meditate: 

“This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son into the world that

we might live through him.”  

-1 John 4:9