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Holiness Starts in the Home (Part 2)

Holiness Starts in the Home (Part 2)

Posted on July 12, 2022 Posted By: KBCF Categories: Devotion

Leviticus 19:1-4; Ephesians 5:5; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Hebrews 10:24-25

Day 3

Note: This devotional is taken from the 2022 Midyear Prayer and Fasting Week.

Start to Connect

What are the other traits concerning holiness that we learn from our home? Our main passage identifies idolatry (the worship of other gods) and the practice of Sabbath. In the bible idolatry is intertwined with covetousness and the practice of Sabbath highlights the rhythm of trust and rest in the midst of a hurried world.

Truth to Ponder

  1. In a life based on agriculture, surrounded by hostile tribes, to leave your farm and all that you have, not to mention the things that you need to attend to in the farm (your servants are also having their Sabbath rest), to worship God on a Sabbath is an act of trust. Does your worship involve trusting God? (i.e., Can you turn off your phone if you are on call, or if you’re expecting an important call?)
  2. Sabbath too is a reminder of our redemption, and a call to a compassionate life to those who are in the margin of society. (Deuteronomy 5:14-15) It is also a call to have a rhythm of rest and worship in one’s life. In a frantic world, where every chance and opportunity matter, Sabbath worship at the least is counter-intuitive. Is your worship life distinct from others, and is an act of holiness?
  3. Idolatry is the worship of other gods other than, or even in addition to, the worship of the true God, Yahweh. Paul equates idolatry to covetousness and/or greed. Is there any other god in your home? (i.e. career, reputation, money, accumulation of material things) 

Examine The Word

  1. Read Leviticus 19:1-4 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15 prayerfully. Can you imagine a time when everything stops as implied in Deuteronomy 5:14? What is your reaction?    
    (Nowadays, when we decide to just spend the day worshipping the Lord, there are the kasambahays to cook for us, or restaurants to serve our meal!) What must it be like to worship the Lord and devote the whole day to Him in a hostile environment (i.e., persecutions; Hebrews 10:24-25)
  2. Read Leviticus 19:1-4 and Ephesians 5:5 prayerfully. The nations around Israel took for granted to worship their gods (in fact Old Testament scholars think that it took for Israel to be exiled to realize that their God Yahweh is no tribal god like that of the nation!). In fact, since Israel has no idol(s) in their altar they were considered atheists! God’s command is for them to have “no other gods before me” (Yahweh alone sits in the altar). To be holy, distinct, is to have no other gods. What is your reaction?
  3. If covetousness or greed is tantamount to idolatry (Ephesians 5:5), what does Paul imply in terms of the human heart regarding idolatry? (i.e., we create gods in our image!)
    Greed and/or covetousness have nothing to do with holiness. What is your reaction?

Personal Application

  1. Sabbath is woven into the fabric of Israel’s life, individually and corporately. It is a sign that they are set apart, holy before God. Can your worship and prayer life make you distinct, holy, and different from others? Why/why not?
    What step(s) would you be taking to apply God’s command to observe Sabbath (or its equivalent) in your life now?
  2. How would you teach the practice of Sabbath to your children? (i.e. life lived in the rhythm of rest, worship, and trusting the Lord.)
  3. At the least, addressing idolatry should start by living simple lives and not being caught up with materialism and the consumerism of the modern world. What steps would you take to address this matter in your home?
  4. Pray for your family (and families that the Lord reminds you of) as you end your time of reflection.

Prayer List

 NATION

Praise God for former leaders (name the past Mayor, Vice-Mayor, Councilors of your respective cities) — for their specific achievements during their term.                  
Pray for the duly-elected Mayor, Vice-Mayor and Councilors of your city and for the rest of the 146 City Mayors and Vice-Mayors, 1,650 City Councilors; 1,488 Municipal Mayors and Vice-Mayors, 11,908 Municipal Councilors.                               
Pray they be responsible in delivering the services needed in your respective cities/ municipalities. (Name these services).

 CHURCH/MINISTRIES

Worship Department Ministries

(Pulpit preaching, Ministerial services, Sunday worship, Special events,
Prayer, Ushering, Choir and Music/ Band)

Missions Department Ministries

(Missions Committee: Missionary Care and Development, Church Planting, Missional Partnerships and Engagements (Evangelism, Campus Ministry, Workplace Discipleship and Sports)

 FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS

Holy Spirit’s empowering to parents/ guardians and students to cope with demands of shifting from online to face-to-face classes in the midst of limited and high cost of transport; breakthroughs for hybrid set-ups mutually beneficial for teachers and students.

 MISSIONS

Pray for our missionaries, local and cross-cultural, for their sensitivity to God’s leading in their lives and ministries, strength and good health, protection from the evil one and empowerment as they proclaim the Gospel, make disciples and engage the people groups to which they are reaching out.     
Pray for our local Missionaries: Set 1

  1. Pastor JOHNNY PABIA (Mahanaim Ministries)
  2. Pastor JOSEPH LEE (Bless Fellowship/New Tribes)
  3. Pastor PHILIP FLORES (TOPIC)
  4. Pastor JOJIE LIMJOCO (Companion with the Poor)
  5. KIM SISON (KBCF – Pastor’s Mentor)
  6. Dra. MATE FRANCISCO (Tentmaker-Zamboanga)
  7. EFRAIM ELIJAH and MAIMAI TENDERO (Campus Crusade for Christ)
  8. Pastor TERRY and ADA LUAREZ (In Christ Fellowship-N. Ecija)
  9. Elder SITO SILVA (FOCIG)
  10. PHOEBE PARREÑAS (Messiah College)