WEEK 8, Day 6, Saturday, 20 February 2021

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 20 February 21:

Leviticus 18, 19 – “I am the Lord.”

Today in Leviticus 18 and 19, God gives several rules, statutes and commands to His people, and throughout He reminds, them, “I am the Lord;” in fact, in these two chapters He repeats this proclamation 21 times. Why should you obey God? Because He is the Lord! Note that all of chapter 18 is dedicated to unlawful sexual regulations. For example, God says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) Why? “I am the Lord [and] it is an abomination.” Homosexuality is listed in God’s prohibitions next to incest and bestiality, yet today our society celebrates it, and we now see some churches ordaining homosexual clergy. Some might argue that God’s laws concerning homosexuality only applied to Old Testament times, but these prohibitions are clearly reiterated in the New Testament (Romans 1:26-32; Jude 1:5-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Mark 10:6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:2; and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11), along with many other sexual sins which have long been normalized in popular culture.

Similarly, God says, “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God (Leviticus 18:21),” yet we have recently seen states in America expand the laws for late term abortion. Concerning this verse, some might argue that the prohibition against giving “your children to offer them” is only about sacrifices to idols or only about children who have already been born, but Exodus 21:22-25 leaves no doubt that God views the unborn child as being just as valuable and entitled to life as anyone else.

The issue is not that God’s laws aren’t clear enough, the issue is we have made light of the sovereignty and holiness of God, and God is equally as offended with “those who practice such things” and those who “give approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:32) Silence is consent. ““Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God. You shall not do as they do in the land…. You shall not walk in their statutes. You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 18:2-5)

Of course, God doesn’t just tell us what we must not do, He also tells us what we must do – Be holy, love your neighbor as yourself, and obey all of His statues. (Leviticus 19)

Leviticus 19:2, 3 — “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy…. I am the Lord your God.”

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 20 Feb 21: Pray for repentance and revival among God’s people.