"I am the LORD who sanctifies them"

Today's Bible reading Leviticus 21 and 22 continues with a long list of laws.  Some of them make sense and others seem very strange.  There is a phrase that is repeated over and over again that is huge.

This statement is "I am the LORD who sanctifies."  It is not following the law that saves.  It is God who sanctifies.  While these laws in Leviticus may seem strange and maybe even foolish.  God had reasons for giving these specific laws at that specific time.  Some of the laws had health reasons.  Some of the laws were meant to set the Israelites apart from the surrounding nations.  And some we just don't understand completely.

While God expects and commands our obedience to Him, it is not our works that save us, but rather faith in the God who sanctifies.