If leaving Egypt wasn’t the final goal, what does God’s plan to make His people holy teach you about your own journey—and how does Jesus Christ help you become who God is calling you to be?
"2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2)
"7 And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you." (Doctrine and Covenants 60:7).
"Contains the following: (1) The sacrificial ordinances (Lev. 1–7): (a) the burnt offering (1:1–17); (b) the meat offering (2:1–16); (c) the peace offering (3:1–17); (d) the sin offering (4:1–5:13); (e) the guilt-offering (5:14–6:7); and (f) various sacrifices for the priests (6:8–7:38). (2) The ritual observed in the consecration of priests, together with an account of the deaths of Nadab and Abihu because they offered strange fire (Lev. 8–10). (3) Laws relating to ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 13–15). (4) The ritual of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). (5) The law of holiness (Lev. 17–26), containing a systematic code of laws dealing with religious and social observances. Lev. 27 is supplementary, dealing with vows and the redemption of “devoted” things.
The book of Leviticus represents the priestly religious life of Israel. Its dominant thought is the presence of a holy God in the midst of a holy people dwelling in a holy land. Its object is to teach religious truth to the minds of men through the medium of a stately ritual, sacrifices representing the need of atonement and communion, the consecration of the priesthood teaching the need of the consecration of the life of every worshipper who would draw nigh to God, and the law of clean and unclean teaching that God requires the sanctification of the whole man, body as well as spirit." (“Leviticus” in the Bible Dictionary)
And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment: "April 27–May 3: “Holiness to the Lord” Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 4; 16; 19
"Leaving Egypt—as important as that was—didn’t fully accomplish God’s purposes for the children of Israel. Even a comfortable life in the promised land wasn’t God’s ultimate goal for them. These were only steps toward what God really wanted for His people: “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). How did God plan to make His people holy after they had lived in captivity for generations? He commanded them to create a place of holiness in the wilderness—a tabernacle. He gave them covenants and laws to guide their actions and change their hearts. And He commanded them to make animal sacrifices to teach them about atonement for their sins. All of this was meant to point their minds, hearts, and lives toward the Savior. He is the true path to holiness, for the Israelites and for us. We have all spent some time in the captivity of sin, and we are all invited to leave sin behind and follow Jesus Christ, who has promised, “I am able to make you holy” (Doctrine and Covenants 60:7).
For an overview of the book of Leviticus, see “Leviticus” in the Bible Dictionary."
God's plan for His people in ancient times is the same for me, because I am among His people in these latter days. Leaving sin behind didn't fully accomplish God's purposes for me. It's just the beginning step towards what God really wanted for me. God doesn't want me to just stop sinning. He wants me to transform and become more like Him. As I strive to do my part to point my mind, heart, and life toward the Savior, the Lord can make me holy as He is.
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