Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Leviticus is one of my favorite books. Really. This is not sarcasm. So many rules, so little time. So many rules, so twisted by humans. I love these verses because they remind me that the whole point of all of these rules, all of these regulations is to show us how to “be holy because, I the Lord your God, am holy.” I think everyone should make it a point to read Leviticus over and over until we can read past the letter of the words until the spirit of the words becomes intrinsic. Once we become intrinsic we can live them without having to rely on exploiting them.
Matthew 25: 31-46
Part of being holy is following verses 35-36. I think that is what all of the rules in Leviticus are about–showing us how to do this holiness thing while becoming closer to God. I think what interested me the most about re-reading this passage along with Leviticus is that I have recently been reading most Scripture through a social justice lens. Reading this story through the verse in Leviticus that says: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favortism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly,” makes me conscious of my own folly. I frequently give partiality to the poor. Perhaps it is perceived as pity not compassion when I favor the poor. Showing this type of grace to all people, consistently, is the trick. Without perverting justice.
We talked at church today about temptation, which has been the focus of the readings so far. One quote that Dave used in the message sticks out in my mind: “The honor of Jesus Christ is at stake in your bodily life.”–Oswald Chambers My question for myself today is: do I honor Jesus Christ with my bodily life?
Reason Breeds Insanity 