Tag: holiness

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As Far As East Is from the West

Daily Reading

Leviticus 16-18

Daily Thought

There were two goats used on the Day of Atonement. One was slaughtered and its blood was carried into the Holy of Holies by the high priest. That was the blood that covered the guilt of the people in the sight of God. Now their conscience was purified and they could serve the living God.

The other goat was held at the entrance of the tabernacle until the high priest came out and laid his hands on its head. Acting on behalf of all the people of Israel, the high priest confessed the sins of the people and transferred their sins to this animal. This second goat is the “scapegoat.”  Nowadays, that is what we call someone who takes the blame for everyone’s mistake. This goat not only received the blame but also took the guilt, carrying it far away into the wilderness–as far as east is from the west.  

Together these two goats picture the redemptive work of Jesus. His blood has covered our sins in the sight of God, just as the blood of the first goat did once each year, but now, in Jesus, once for all time. And Jesus became the scapegoat for all his people. Jesus our Savior was loaded with all our sins and carried them far, far away–as far as east is from west. That’s how much he loves us.

My children would tell me how much they loved me by stretching out their arms as far as they could and shouting, “This much …and more.” So did Jesus. As far as east is from the west …and more.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 
as far as the east is from the west, 
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
~Psalm 103:11-12

Daily Prayer

God, thank You doing all the work. You were innocent of sin and yet you died for mine.   I sin a lot. But more than that, you keep walking with me. You keep shaping me into the person you created me to be. I’m free from the guilt of sin because of you, but you keep working on me, freeing me day by day from the presence of sin. Help me to hate my sin as much as you do. I know that happens as my love for you continues to grow, this much and more. Jesus, I love you. 

Amen

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Kosher

Daily Reading

Leviticus 11-13

Daily Thought

Question: What were God’s reasons for declaring some food clean and some unclean, or certain conditions such as childbirth, menstruation, and leprosy unclean?

Lots of reasons have been offered. Perhaps there is symbolism in the choice of animals. The clean animals represented virtues, the unclean vices. Or maybe the unclean animals were the ones that the godless countries around Israel used in their pagan worship. One idea is that the unclean animals and the unclean conditions were psychologically repulsive. Others argue that certain animals, scavengers mostly, and the blood of childbirth and menstruation, and, of course, the diseases of chapter 13, were unclean because they were literally unclean. They were unhealthy and lacked hygiene.  ut all of a sudden, in Acts 10, God told Peter that he could eat everything, that God had declared all these animals clean. Did they suddenly become healthy, too?

Here’s what I think, and I am just speculating here, because honestly, I don’t know. There is a similar question that may help. Why did God choose Israel? Why didn’t he choose the Egyptians or the Canaanites or some other people group. Certainly, it wasn’t because the Israelites were better or healthier or less repulsive than the others. They weren’t. God chose them because he is God and he gets to choose. He may have his reasons (he may not), but he does not have to tell us, and he didn’t. He simply chose. It may sound arbitrary, but I’m eternally grateful he chose me, and I didn’t give him a good reason to do that, either.  

He called his people to be holy. To be holy is to be set apart, to be distinguished from what is common. The declaration of clean and unclean reminded the Israelites that God demands purity through obedience and sacrifice. We obey God, not necessarily because it makes sense or benefits us (it does), but because of who he is, the holy, good, righteous, full of grace, all-loving God of the heavens and the earth.

Daily Prayer

Holy God, You are good. May my life be holy, set apart for Your purposes. You have made me a saint, righteous because of the work of Your Son. You have filled me with Your Holy Spirit. Work Your salvation through me from the inside out. Take my desires and make them Yours, so that what I do will reflect Your character.

God, I have choices in front of me everyday, clean and unclean. May I discern the difference and choose wisely. May I trust in Your ways and follow closely.  

Amen