What Does the World See?

Leviticus 22:31-33, 26:3–46, Numbers 15:37–41, Deuteronomy 12:32, 22:12, 31:9–11
 
Leviticus 22:31-33 “You must faithfully keep all my commands by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord. 32 Do not bring shame on my holy name, for I will display my holiness among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who makes you holy. 33 It was I who rescued you from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. I am the Lord.”
 
AS we live in the New Testament era of God’s kingdom on earth, we know our salvation is only by God’s grace that you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:5b) God has rescued his own from sin’s death to be born again into a new life in Jesus’ salvation.
   Suddenly, then, our spiritual birth begins to reshape our lives. As we come to learn God’s Word, he exhorts us put his commands into practice. Through the essential commands of loving God and loving one another, our Christian life must enrich God’s name on earth as we reveal God’s holiness through our lives. Being a Christian is a high honor from God’s holy throne. We must know God’s gift carries a responsibility. Our lives are to honor God’s eternal love with a loving response to him and his creation. On the other hand, to claim, “I am a Christian.” but deny Christ’s ways dishonors God to a watching world.
   This pattern is foundational to God’s  story isn’t it? The faithful Christian lifestyle is not new to the New Testament. The Bible tells us that God’s chosen people throughout the Old Testament were to live to exhibit God’s holy character to a watching world.
   In his grace, God formed Israel out of nothing to become a powerful, fruitful picture of the church. He taught them the way of loving God and loving each other. They learned what was good and not good. Then El Shaddai gave them ample opportunities to receive his blessings as they journeyed with him to the Promised Land. In the Land, they were to live, as we are to live today, in God’s way.  
   If Israel obeyed God’s commands, they would demonstrate a new way of life to the world trapped in demonic influence. God’s will was for the world to look at Israel to see a nation of order and blessing, prospering spiritually and physically in God’s law. Obeying God’s commands, Israel would glorify God to a watching world.
   But what happened when the disobeyed? Not only would their sins bring God’s judgment, their sins would shame God’s holy name. Pagan nations would see no value in worshiping the God of a people who acted in the same ways they did.
   Think about this: Israel was a nation of about 2 million people moving through a very small area. The nations and people groups around them were watching this invasion of slaves out of Egypt. Who are they? What will they do? Who is their God? Do we have any reasons to submit our own lives to this nation and their God? Israel’s actions would answer the watching world’s questions one way or another.  
   How about it? Are you purposeful to honor God as you exhibit God’s holiness to the world? What will the world think of God when they see your life? Is there any reason they would want to learn more of God?