Our motive for holiness

God’s words here seem very harsh.

“Devote the nations in Canaan to complete destruction. Make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.”

Why so harsh? Because they hated God and were in rebellion against him, their Creator and rightful ruler. (10)

He had given them over 400 years to repent, and yet they had only gotten worse. (Deuteronomy 7:25, Genesis 15:16, Leviticus 18)

God is patient, but those who unrepentantly shake their fist at God will ultimately be judged.

The amazing thing, though, is that we were in rebellion against God too.

But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And though there was nothing special about us, God set his love on us and chose us, making us his people. (1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 2:11-22)

That is our motivation for holiness.

Not to earn God’s love and acceptance.

Not to become his child.

But because we already have God’s love and acceptance as a child of God.

So let us not be ensnared by the things God hates.

Let us not allow anything he hates into our houses. Not porn, nor sexual sin, nor anything else that leads to spiritual death.

Make no covenant with sin, but by the Spirit’s power, let us vanquish these things from our homes.

And out of gratefulness and love for God, let us live holy lives that are pleasing to him.