Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Leviticus: Chapter 19

If any doubt remained that God is serious about holiness, it is removed here:  'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'  As we progress through the chapter, God even instructs about purity in weaving, horticulture and animal breeding.  The theme of discernment and separation consistently appears throughout Leviticus.

I love that God repeats Himself so patiently, so consistently and yet with diversity.  This chapter gives us practical application of the Ten Commandments.  The accuracy of Jesus' summary is clear:  'love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.'  Respect for God and others is evident in each of the commands outlined here.  It is respectful to be honest, to care about the needs of others, to honor the Sabbath.  All of the instructions make inherent sense as we read through them...yet, they are beyond our human ability, aren't they?  Praise God, He sent Jesus to fulfill the law for us!

The command to not reap our fields to their edges has spoken to me for several years.  We live in a world that calls us to do more and experience more; yet I see that as a reminder that we have limits that are best not pushed all the time.  When we live to the limits of our income, we are not in a position to help others.  When we allocate all of our time -- even to good activities-- there is no room left for meeting needs and simply loving others.  We are called to live to bring glory to God; that can only be done by heeding His Word. 

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