Day 35

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A Lifestyle for Holy People Under the Law

Scripture

February 4—Leviticus 11-15: Personal Purity for God’s People

Observation

God’s holy people demands a distinctive lifestyle. Today’s reading sets forth an assortment of laws designed to promote ceremonial purity in the nation. Cleanliness is an indispensable part of worshiping a holy God, whether in matter of food, hygiene, disease, or contact with polluting influences. For the Israelites, this involved dietary laws, strict health requirements, and temporary quarantines. In minute detail, each defiling situation is outlined, along with the steps that must be taken for the person to be declared ceremonially “clean” and therefor fit to worship God in the congregation.

Application

Think back to your last visit to the supermarket, and make a list of the items you recall seeing on the shelves whose principal use is for cleansing: soaps, bleaches, brushes, detergents, etc. Now ponder this simple yet profound truth: The reason so much emphasis must be placed on getting things clean is because it is so easy to get things dirty. Even a vacant house collects dust, but fill it with a family and assorted pets, and you have a ready-made market for the “cleanser companies!

The same is true in the spiritual realm. Polluting influences are everywhere over the airwaves, on the internet, on the printed page, in the conversations we overhear and on social medias. Unless we exercise care, our heart and mind will soon be as soiled as our environment. Even with care, there will be daily need for God’s cleansing formula and it is 1 John 1:9!

Prayer

Thank you Jesus that we have you to keep us who have accepted you as our Lord and Savior cleaned and purified! In your holy name, amen!

1 John 1:9









© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2019

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