Leviticus 18:3-4, and 20:26, "After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine."

Believers understand the principle of sanctification. Sanctification is the process by where God sets us apart from the world and draws us unto Himself for His honor and glory. Today's reading is full of this fact in the experience of the children of Israel. They weren't to follow the ways of the Egyptians, they weren't to follow the ways of the Canaanites, they were to do God's judgments, they were to keep His ordinances, and walk in His ways. God declared they would be "...holy unto me...and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." (vs. 20:26) Every believer is God's peculiar possession. The Apostle Peter proclaims, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5) "...ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

Have you recognized God's ownership in your life? Do you understand the principle of holiness and personal separation that should be operating in you? Sanctification is a reality to be lived out every moment of every day. Jesus in His prayer to the Father prayed, in John 17:17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." As we apply and obey the Word of God, sanctification will be the result. We will find ourselves being set apart from the world and drawn unto God to live for His honor and glory.

May God be glorified through my life and yours.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. What hinders your growth as a believer?

2. What should you do with those things which hinder your spiritual growth?

3. What one thing should establish your identity? In what manner should this change you?

4. The process of sanctification is two-fold, one is positional, and the other is practical. How do they differ?

5. What one instrument does Jesus identify as being the source and power by which sanctification can be realized? (See John 17:17)

We Belong to God