March 12, 2020

Leviticus 18:1-5 (KJV)

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God.
3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.

God was preparing the Israelites for their entrance into Canaan. Earlier I talked about how God warned them of a curse that would come from living like the culture in Canaan. Today I want to talk about the blessing.
God gives them some commands, “do my judgements”, “keep mine ordinances”, “keep my statues, and my judgements.” It seems like a long list to keep to make God happy. Yet this is not the intention. God gives them rules to give them their best life possible.
Is it mean for a parent to make a child go to bed? No. Children need sleep. Is it mean for a parent to make their child brush his or her teeth? No. Why? Because doing these things keep them healthy and well. The same reasoning can go into these “rules.” Living by God’s word keeps us from so many hurtful things in life. When we resist we open ourselves up to pain. God doesn’t make us do right, but when we do we receive a benefit.
Verse 5 says, “which if a man do, he shall live.” Remember that Jesus came to bring us life and it more abundantly. Life in Christ is not a list of things I cannot do, it’s an open world of things I can do without pain. Living in a way that pleases God is not restrictive, it is like an open world to explore without bondage from sin. Sin is what restricts us. Sin is like carrying weights that make it difficult to move. What is holding you back from living free? God’s design was life, and that comes through Him.

Jacob Jarriel