Holy Children

Read Deuteronomy 14
 
Deuteronomy 14:1-2, 22 You are the children of the Lord your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, 2 for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession…22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.    
 
HERE is God’s pattern of salvation. “You are the children of the Lord” and “you are a people holy to the LORD your God” define Israel’s unique status in all the earth. The LORD formed a physical nation and separated them from the world to demonstrate his authority, law, grace and love. Israel was a physical sign among its neighbors that the LORD God is like no other. Psalms 147:20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord. 
     What was to be Israel’s response to such a glorious calling? For one, God again commands them to reject pagan gods and evil worship practices. Cutting oneself was a pagan practice. It certainly is opposed to the LORD’s many commands regarding physical health.  
     God’s children also were to respond in faith with a tithe of their crops. Note this was to save for the special feasts to enjoy in God’s presence. It was sitting at the Lord’s Table. Saving some food for that time was trusting God would provide their “daily bread.” A tithe is a faith test. Giving and saving to worship God is a faith action. Trusting God with their food supply would form Israel’s mind more truly to be holy children of the Holy Father.
     Centuries later, Peter echoed Moses as he called the God’s eternal nation, the Church, to faith. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Confessing Christ, we are truly eternal children of God, made holy without sin through Jesus’ saving blood. We are to live in preparation of our eternal feast at the Lord’s table.
     Our lives are to be a grateful response to the Father’s gracious call. What might you do this day to demonstrate you are a holy child of the living God?
 
Matthew 18:2-4 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”