Shavua Tov! This week's double Torah portion is called Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, which mean "after the death" or "holy" (set apart).

I know I keep saying that certain portions are my favorite -- but Leviticus 19 really is one of my favorites!

Why? Because in 2006, before I ever heard of anyone keeping Torah, I set out on a mission to read through my Bible (starting in Genesis) and to find out specifically what God said we should and shouldn't do. You can hear more about my testimony in a short video I made.

I fell in love with Leviticus 19. I had always felt like holiness was a very vague thing. I just didn't know how to be holy, and that kinda bugged me. However, this chapter, with its long lists of do's and don'ts, was a huge relief to me. Finally, I had found a definition of holiness, an instruction manual for life, so to speak.

Of course, when Yeshua spoke to His disciples, He very clearly told them that life is more than just keeping a list of do's and don'ts. The heart is what matters. "So in everything," Yeshua said, "do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12.) Of course, that's straight out of Leviticus 19, too.

The wonderful God we serve is not arbitrary. He isn't cruel enough to make us guess how to please Him. Rather, He gives us rules for our good and for our life. He then went even further and sent His Son to pay the punishment our sin. He is so good! (Read more about this in the book of 1 John.)

May we obey Him because we love Him!

(P.S. You can read an old blog post I wrote about holiness.)

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O YHWH, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:2-3).

We need to concretely teach that we should pray only to YHWH as God. This sounds obvious, but think about your speech ("good luck," "I wish that such-and-such would happen," or even worrying instead of taking concerns to God first).

Lay your requests before God in the morning, and at set times. Scripture repeatedly mentions that we should start our day with prayer. This is an easy way to start with your children. Noon is also mentioned in Scripture, which is easy to remember at mealtimes. Evening is also mentioned, which is easy to do at bedtime with your children. The people of Israel have traditionally taken their requests to God at set times each day, often corresponding to meals or to times of sacrifice in the Temple.