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February 5 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 36

Hopefully, by reading through Leviticus, you'll notice that there aren't many areas of our life that don't matter to God.  When someone joins a United Methodist congregation, we ask them to serve Christ through the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.  A simple way I explain that to potential members is that their commitments covers every area of their life.

And that's what seems to be part of the goal of passages like today's.  All our life belongs to God.  All of our life we are commit to God, and keep holy.

DAILY READINGS

DAILY NOTES

Leviticus 19:2

  • God's expectations of holiness is directly related to God's own holiness.
Leviticus 19:9-10
  • A way to take care of the poor is built into the holiness of the people.  
Leviticus 19:34
  • A reminder to the people that they're exodus from Egypt should soften their hearts to other people who have come among them.  They are to be treated as a citizen.
Leviticus 20:2-5
  • Molech, most likely, is a Canaanite god.  Rituals associated with this god include sexual practices and child sacrifice.  
  • The people's association with such a cult is equated to spiritual prostitution.
Leviticus 20:23-26
  • So many of the commandments that have been given seem to originate from the surrounding people's practices.  God's overall command is that the people of God would stand holy, separate from everyone else. 
Psalm 36
  • Notice that transgression is "deep in their hearts" of the wicked and that they have "ceased to act wisely and do good."  So, they used to, but something happened.
  • The steadfast love of God extends throughout all Creation and carries those who know God.


OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Ever notice how easy it is to latch onto one of these commands and make it the battle cry of our cause?  Whole movements and denominations can be built on one verse.

What about all the rest of the verses?

The call to purity and full obedience to God is what matters stands at the heart of these passages.

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