Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Ask now the priests for a ruling: If a man carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?" And the priests answered and said, "No" (Haggai 2:11-12).If you take this out of context (you know ... kind of like I just did here), it makes very little sense. What in the world is God talking about here? God is speaking to Israel and using the Law that they all know to illustrate a common erroneous belief. Here's the belief: "If I spend time with the right people in the right places doing the right things I will be right." Oh, they'd likely never say it, but the thought, basically, is "If I spend time with the Holy, I will be holy."
Spending time doing holy things or thinking holy thoughts or being around holy people in holy places cannot confer holiness. Only One can actually confer holiness to the unholy, and that would be God Himself. Just ask those fellows from Matt. 7:15-23. Good deeds, even for the sake of God, does not give one the necessary relationship with Jesus. If you were counting on your good works and right associations, think again. I wouldn't want you to miss the chance to actually be made holy.
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