Called to Holiness: Living as God's Set-Apart People

Devotional

Day 1: Called to Be a Holy Nation and Royal Priesthood

God’s people are called to be set apart, living as a holy nation and royal priesthood so that the world may see God’s character through them. This calling is not just for ancient Israel but extends to all who follow Jesus today. To be holy means to reflect God’s goodness, steadfast love, and faithfulness in a world that is often corrupt and chaotic. As priests, believers stand between God and the world, representing His love and mercy, and inviting others to experience His presence. This identity shapes how we live, love, and serve, making our lives a testimony to God’s desire to dwell with His people. [33:13]

Exodus 19:4-6 (ESV)
“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Reflection: In what specific way can you live out your identity as part of God’s royal priesthood this week, so that someone in your life becomes curious about the God you serve?

Day 2: Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

Holiness is not just about ritual or private piety, but is deeply connected to how we treat others—especially in our families and communities. God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself is at the heart of moral holiness, calling us to forgive, avoid grudges, and act with justice and compassion. This love is practical and visible, shaping our relationships and daily choices, and is a non-negotiable part of following God. When we love others well, we honor God’s name and reveal His character to the world. [47:20]

Leviticus 19:17-18 (ESV)
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Reflection: Who is one person you find difficult to love right now, and what is one concrete act of kindness or reconciliation you can offer them this week?

Day 3: Be Holy, for I Am Holy

God’s repeated call to “be holy, for I am holy” is both a command and an invitation to participate in His own character. Holiness is not about being perfect or superior, but about being set apart for God’s purposes—living differently in a way that is public, gentle, and persistent. This difference is not meant to condemn others, but to provoke curiosity and point people to God. Holiness is a daily journey of surrender, obedience, and drawing near to God, trusting that He empowers us to live out this calling. [53:16]

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV)
“You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel most “common” or ordinary, and how can you invite God to set that area apart for His purposes today?

Day 4: Sanctification Is a Cooperative Journey

Sanctification—becoming holy—is not an instant transformation, but a lifelong process of cooperation with God’s Spirit, Word, and community. While salvation is a gift that cannot be earned, living a holy life requires intentional participation: daily surrender, confession, worship, and acts of love. This journey involves working out your salvation, drawing near to God, and allowing Him to shape your character and actions. Holiness grows as you repeatedly offer yourself to God, trusting in His mercy and grace to sustain you. [55:47]

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Reflection: What is one spiritual practice—such as prayer, confession, or serving others—that you can intentionally engage in this week to participate in God’s work of sanctification in your life?

Day 5: Living Differently for the Sake of the World

God’s people are called to live differently—not to condemn, but to invite others to see God’s beauty, justice, and love. This difference is expressed in practical ways: caring for the vulnerable, practicing honesty, showing hospitality, and treating all people with dignity. Living differently is a public witness, done in community, and meant to provoke questions about the hope and goodness found in God. As you carry God’s name into your world, your lifestyle becomes a living invitation for others to encounter Him. [53:42]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: What is one visible action you can take this week—at work, school, or in your neighborhood—that would reflect God’s love and set you apart as His follower?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the profound calling God has placed on His people, both in ancient Israel and in our lives today. Drawing from the journey through Leviticus, we see that God’s desire has always been to dwell with His people, to form a community that is set apart—a royal priesthood and a holy nation. This calling is not just a historical footnote but a living reality for all who follow Jesus. The instructions given to Israel after their deliverance from Egypt were not arbitrary rules, but a way to shape a people who would reflect God’s character to the world around them.

Holiness, as revealed in Leviticus, is not about being removed from the world, but about living differently within it. God’s holiness is unique—He is pure, steadfast, and unchanging. In contrast, humanity is described as “common,” not as a put-down, but as a recognition of our createdness and our distance from God’s perfection. Yet, through God’s grace, what is common can be declared holy as we participate in His life. The rituals and purity codes in Leviticus served as daily reminders of the need to draw near to God, to be aware of the ways the world’s brokenness affects us, and to seek cleansing and restoration.

The call to holiness is both individual and communal. It is not about condemning others or being hyper-spiritual, but about living in such a way that our lives provoke curiosity and questions about the God we serve. The moral codes in Leviticus, especially the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself, are expanded by Jesus and remain central to our identity. Holiness is expressed in how we treat others, care for the vulnerable, and pursue justice and kindness in our communities.

Sanctification is not a passive process. While salvation is God’s gift, becoming holy involves our active participation—drawing near, surrendering, and cooperating with God’s Spirit and His people. This journey is ongoing, requiring daily surrender and a willingness to be shaped by God’s wisdom. As we live out this calling, we carry God’s name into the world, inviting others to see His beauty and love through our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Desire to Dwell with His People: From the beginning, God’s longing has been to live among His people, forming a community that reflects His character. This is not just an Old Testament idea but continues today as we are called into the family of God, set apart for His purposes. Our identity as a royal priesthood and holy nation is rooted in God’s unwavering promises, which never fail. [30:19]
2. Holiness as Participation, Not Perfection: Being “common” is not a mark of shame but a recognition of our humanity. Holiness is not about achieving flawlessness but about participating in the life of God, allowing Him to declare us holy as we draw near. Our daily reality is lived on the border of death and life, and our need for God’s cleansing is a continual invitation to relationship, not condemnation. [37:39]
3. Living Differently for the Sake of the World: The call to be holy is a call to live differently—not to condemn, but to provoke curiosity and invite questions about the God we serve. Our distinctiveness is meant to be public and communal, a visible sign of God’s presence and protection. This difference is not about superiority but about embodying God’s love and justice in tangible ways. [45:22]
4. Holiness Expressed in Relationships and Justice: Moral holiness is not just about private piety but is deeply connected to how we treat others. The command to love our neighbor as ourselves is at the heart of God’s law, and our relationships—familial, social, and economic—reveal who we truly worship. True holiness is seen in justice, kindness, and care for the vulnerable, reflecting God’s radical, countercultural love. [47:20]
5. Sanctification as Active Cooperation: While salvation is a gift, sanctification requires our participation—drawing near, surrendering, and working out our salvation in community. Holiness is not instant but is cultivated through daily choices, repentance, and cooperation with God’s Spirit. This ongoing process shapes us into people who carry God’s name and presence into the world, inviting others to encounter His grace. [55:47]
** [55:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:07] - Community Connection and Prayer
[27:32] - Thanksgiving for God’s Sacrifice
[28:19] - Recap: Journey Through Leviticus
[29:21] - God’s Desire: A Holy People
[30:52] - Exodus 19 and the Call to Priesthood
[32:24] - The Structure of Priesthood
[34:15] - What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
[36:20] - Commonness and Holiness
[38:15] - Ritual Purity and Cleanliness
[39:50] - The Significance of Food and Purity
[42:29] - The Role of Priests in Discernment
[45:22] - Living Differently: Community Witness
[46:41] - Moral Holiness and Loving Your Neighbor
[49:33] - Wisdom in Applying Ancient Laws
[50:57] - Radical Justice and Care for the Vulnerable
[53:16] - The Call to Live Set Apart
[54:48] - Sanctify Yourselves: God’s Ongoing Call
[56:27] - The Process of Sanctification
[59:12] - Prayer and Community Response
[60:20] - Benediction and Sending Forth
[61:52] - Closing Worship and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 19:4-6 (ESV) — > “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Leviticus 19:17-18 (ESV) — > “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — > “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Observation Questions

In Exodus 19:4-6, what does God say is the purpose for calling Israel to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation”?
According to Leviticus 19:17-18, what specific behaviors does God command regarding how we treat others?
In 1 Peter 2:9, what new identity is given to followers of Jesus, and what is its purpose?
The sermon mentioned that being “common” is not a put-down, but a recognition of our humanity. How does Leviticus use the words “common” and “holy” to describe people and things? [[36:03]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God’s desire to “dwell with his people” is so central to the story of the Bible, and how does this shape the way we understand our identity as Christians? [[29:21]]
The sermon said that holiness is not about being removed from the world, but about living differently within it. What might this look like in everyday life? [[45:22]]
How does the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) connect to the idea of holiness? Why is this command repeated and emphasized? [[47:20]]
The process of sanctification was described as “active cooperation” with God. What does it mean to “sanctify yourselves” and how is this different from simply trying to be perfect? [[55:47]]

Application Questions

The sermon described God’s people as “set apart” to reflect his character. In what areas of your life do you feel most “common,” and how might God be inviting you to participate in his holiness this week? [[36:03]]
Holiness was described as living in a way that provokes curiosity about God, not condemnation. Can you think of a time when someone was curious about your faith because of how you lived? What did you do, and how did you respond? [[46:13]]
The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” is central to holiness. Who in your life right now is hard to love, and what is one practical step you could take this week to show them kindness or justice? [[47:20]]
The sermon talked about caring for the vulnerable and pursuing justice as expressions of holiness. Is there a need in your community or church that you feel prompted to respond to? What would it look like to take a first step? [[50:57]]
Sanctification is not instant, but a daily process of surrender and cooperation with God’s Spirit. What is one area where you need to surrender or ask for God’s help to grow in holiness? [[55:47]]
The idea of “carrying God’s name” into the world was emphasized. How does this responsibility affect the way you interact with others at work, school, or home? [[57:46]]
The sermon encouraged us to “draw near” to God, even when we feel unworthy or “unclean.” What practices help you draw near to God, and is there something new you want to try this week? [[57:16]]

Sermon Clips

So the key concept of Leviticus goes right back to God's desire. Adam and Eve were to be this humanity, to enjoy God. They and their children failed. Noah was chosen. He and his children failed. Abraham was chosen. He and his children failed. But he was given promises. And these promises are like all the promises of God. They never fail. They never fail. [00:29:49] (40 seconds) #UnfailingPromises

``A priest stands between someone else and God. And so the Israelite nation was set up to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, so that the rest of the world could see what their God was like. And that same calling is your calling and my calling today, according to Peter, who said, if you're a follower of Jesus, you are my people. Treasured, special. A royal priesthood and a holy nation. So you got it. That is our calling. You got it. So Leviticus does concern you, tells you how to be a priest. [00:33:05] (47 seconds) #RoyalPriesthoodCalling

Holiness. We've done a lot about that. Our God is holy. It is a unique characteristic of our God, our God, Father, Son and Spirit. It's a one of a kind status that describes God. It describes the fact that he's not corrupt, he's not blemished, he's not impure, he's not messy, he is not complicated, he is not uncertain, he is not unpredictable. He's holy and good and beautiful and kind and steadfast in love and faithfulness. And there's no deviation from his character. [00:34:34] (46 seconds) #GodIsHoly

Moral holiness is about how you treat others. Every one of these rules in this code is about how you behave in your family and in your community, how you use your time, how you observe the Sabbath. Most importantly, this is an expansion of what Jesus called the greatest commandment. Remember, he said you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and Strength and your neighbour as yourself. [00:46:41] (32 seconds) #ProvokingCuriosity

The core idea is the way our families operate and the way we practice sexuality actually reveals who it is that we worship, who it is that is our God. We either honour or profane the name of Yahweh, or as the third commandment says, we live in a way that takes the Lord's name in vain, or we honour God. So your sexual relationships, your family relationships, how you live is an indication of who you worship and who you honour. [00:48:13] (44 seconds) #LoveInAction

But we must remember that every command that came here, every law was quite, what's the word? Countercultural. It was radical. It was mind blowing. No other culture treated their women and slaves like this. So they were elevated, but not to the position that Jesus did. And yet we're still grappling with how Jesus elevated all humans in his sight. So I'm just saying that so you look at it and know that this was very, very counterculture and very radical. Radical, yes. But it was a standard that they were to live by. Each life's valuable and each life is created in the image of God. And each one was to be created fairly. [00:50:01] (60 seconds) #WisdomInContext

Living differently is our calling. Have you got that? Living differently is your calling. Not condemning, not being hyper pious or over spiritual. Living differently. This is actually a very political statement. Doesn't mean to say I'm telling you to align with a political party. What I'm saying is living differently is done publicly. That's what political means. Living in community, in a city according to the Greek understanding. So it is a very public thing. Our lifestyles need to speak loudly, gently, clearly, persistently, all of that. [00:53:36] (58 seconds) #RadicalLoveAndJustice

Sanctify yourselves is something that you do. I always wanted God to make me holy instantly. I wished and prayed and hoped when I was younger that I'd go to bed at night after a prayer and wake up thoroughly holy in the morning. Anyone else wanted that? If you didn't voice it, maybe you wanted it. I really did want to be holy instantly, but I wanted God to do it all. And I learned that sanctifying the work of sanctification is participation, cooperation and working out my salvation with the Spirit of God, with the Word of God, in the community of God. What are you doing to work out your salvation? [00:55:37] (51 seconds) #LiveDifferentlyPublicly

We can't work out or earn our salvation. But we need to keep drawing near with a I am sorry. Thank youk, I worship, I trust yout. I hold these people before youe. All of that is the surrender, the prayer, the purification, the draw near to God to live differently from non followers of Jesus as we surrender ourselves completely to God. Our over and over and over and over again. So often in my journal in the morning it says, here I am again. Lord, I need to surrender again. Take me. [00:57:18] (45 seconds) #SalvationIsAGift

We have a great gift of carrying the name of our God into our community while we are being carried by our God. And we are to live in this world as priests, a holy nation, a chosen people treasured so that people may see and be inquisitive and curious and want to know why and how. [00:58:03] (33 seconds) #DrawNearRepeatedly

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