Leviticus 24-27, Keep it Up!

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Did you ever think you would actually make it through the book of Leviticus. Is your head swimming from all the laws and rules? Keep in mind that Christ paid the price for us. Because we are New Testament believers, we are not subject to those laws. They serve as a reminder to us that we are, in our flesh, unholy and not worthy of the Lord who requires only the most pure. But, thankfully, Christ makes us pure and holy when we truly accept Him as LORD, Savior and King.

So, keep up with me as we read through the Bible. Try to keep this verse in mind as encouragement:

Romans 15:4 The Message Translation
Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it’s written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next.

Keep up the good work. The Lord will bless you greatly for reading His Word. He is glorified when We take what He says seriously!

Leviticus 22-23, His Holy Name

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I found this cute club on the internet called the NO CUSSING CLUB. This young boy was featured on shows like Dr. Phil introducing his club to end dirty language. It is so cute and it made me think about my own language.

As a Christian, my language should be pure and holy, just as we have been reading about in Leviticus. This includes not taking the LORD’s name in vain. Oh this is a problem for me… it is so ingrained in our culture that there is even a texting abbreviation of OMG that teens us all the time. Even the TV LAND cable station had a OMG night of 80’s movies last year. We don’t think twice of using God’s name in our everyday language.

But, the LORD specifically tell us not to take His name in vain.

Leviticus 22:32
32 Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.

If we truly took to heart that the LORD is pure and holy and to be worshiped (even in our everyday language) we would be careful not to use His name lightly. We would make sure not to throw it around as slang or even along with four letter words. He is to be talked about with reverence and awe.

Praise His Name
Talk about Him to others
Sing with gladness about His holiness
Pray the Name of God

Psalm 8:1
LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens

LIVE IT OUT! application
Next time you are angry, take that anger to the LORD rather than using His name lightly.
Reevaluate your everyday language. Do you slip OMG in every now and then? Ask God to show you how amazing and awesome He is so that you won’t want to even think about using His name lightly.r

Leviticus 19-21, Make the Distinction

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Leviticus has led us to read alot about the concepts of clean, unclean, holiness, being set apart, and God’s Holiness. I found Leviticus 20:25-26 to be a good summary of the book. Although, I’ll say it yet again, we are not required to partake in sacrifices or alot of the Laws in this book, the concept does apply to us today with regard to our holiness before God.

Leviticus 20:25-26:
25 ” ‘You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those which I have set apart as unclean for you. 26 You are to be holy to me [c] because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Something interesting struck me with the words distinction and set apart. They are actually the same Hebrew word, “Badal,” which means to distinguish, set aside, different than the surrounding people.

God Himself has set us apart as His children to obey, worship, love and extol Him. This requires that we are holy as He is Holy. (see previous posts) But what is also interesting is that, because we are set apart, we are required to make the distinction between things in this world that are holy, pleasing to God and things that are unclean or dishonoring of Him. As His children who are eager to please our Father, we are to set our lives around these holy things that reflect our love for Him. Make the distinction and then make the decision of whether or not to partake in that certain activity that could potentially displease our Holy Father.

Ephesians 5:15-17 wraps this concept up in a nice package with a pretty bow around it:

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Take the words of Ephesians to heart. Act as one set apart to be holy and make the tough distinction. That decision will not be easy, but if you take the set apart road, you will most certainly be rewarded by God.

LIVE IT OUT! application:
What are some things or activities in the world around you that you need to distinguish between clean or unclean? Is it hard to stay away from the unclean things? Why? Take this to the LORD in prayer and ask Him to change your thoughts toward a more set apart mind willing to make the distinction.