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Leviticus 11（ESV）
41 “Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. 43 You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. 44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
46 This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.
REFLECTION
- God required men to be holy inside as well as outside. For outside cleanness may cultivate inner holiness.
- Chapters 11-15 record the ordinances concerning cleanliness and uncleanness, the reasons and purposes for promulgating these ordinances, and these verses 11:44-47 make it clear that God cares about every aspect of human life, both physical and spiritual, and therefore every move in the life of believers, no matter how big or small, should be submitted to God’s will, separate from the unclean, and practice His teachings in our daily behavior. Keeping clean is a necessary condition for seeing God.
- Our true “distinction” (v47) is not defined by “what we can do and what we can’t do”. What really sets us apart as a community of God’s people is the warmth, concern, and commitment that we show when we come together to learn to love the Lord and one another. The death of Jesus Christ has removed the ancient laws and regulations governing the people of Israel. However, God’s people still need to be “distinct” from others. What God really wants is a difference marked by “love, concern, and commitment.”
- What kind of a “distinct” believer am I? What is my church’s “distinction” mark?
PRAYER
Oh, Lord, I long for such faith community. Help me and everyone at my church so that we will be “marked by the love, the caring, and the commitment” and be different from those around us. Make our church such a “distinct” community that Your name will be manifested and many will be drawn to You.
HYMN:
Build My Life – youtu.be/QZW4_8_zCBE
