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Bible Pathways 02/05/05



February 5

Read Leviticus 11 - 13

In Today's Reading:

Health and dietary laws; the cleansing (purification) of women after childbirth; signs and laws concerning leprosy

Over 40 times in Leviticus we read: I am the LORD or I am the LORD your God; and five times the Lord demands: You shall be holy; for I am holy (Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26; 21:8). Inwardly, outwardly, morally, and spiritually, we also must separate ourselves from all that defiles: For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify (consecrate) yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy (11:44). The Israelites were to eat clean food (chapter 11); have clean bodies (chapters 12-13), clean clothes (13:47-59), clean houses (14:33-57), clean personal hygiene (chapter 15); and be a clean nation (chapter 16).

The word unclean is used about 100 times in chapters 11 through 15, implying that God required every unclean thing to be removed from their lives. God also required that the Israelites separate themselves from heathens, idolatry, immorality, and even unsanitary habits. The people of God were not to intermarry with Gentile unbelievers. The many sacrifices, rules, and regulations concerning what is clean and unclean (what defiles a person), provide awareness of how repulsive sin is to God.

God's character does not change; therefore these regulations remind every Christian today that whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory (honor, praise) of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

The Holy Spirit led the Apostle Paul to write: I beseech (beg) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). And, to the church at Corinth, he wrote: Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are (I Corinthians 3:16-17). To the Ephesians, he wrote: Be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). For God has not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness (set apart to live as belonging to God) (I Thessalonians 4:7). It is also written: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

Word Studies:

11:3 clovenfooted = hoof parted into two distinct hooves; 13:2 rising = swelling; 13:4 shut up = isolate; 13:5 be at a stay = has not changed; 13:10 quick raw = ulcer forming; 13:51 fretting = contagious, spreading.

Christ Revealed:

Through the clean food of the believer (Leviticus 11:47). Our Lord is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), supplies living water (4:10,14), and His Father's will was His meat (food, nourishment) (4:34).

Prayer Needs:

Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in memory of Anna Livingston · Government Officials: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (MI) and Gov. Charles Turnbull (Virgin Islands) · Country: Lebanon (4 million) in the Middle East · Major languages: Arabic and French · Limited religious freedom · 67% Muslim; 19% Roman Catholic; 10% Eastern Orthodox; 1% Protestant · Prayer Suggestion: Bless the Lord for your redemption (Psalm 103:4)

Optional Reading: Mark 8

Memory Verse for the Week: Ephesians 5:5



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