Leviticus

It's a nice Sunday morning outside and I'm excited about going to Church!!  The Lord's Day is on Sunday Morning for believers and we are glad that we get to go to church and hear preaching and teaching from God's Holy Word and enjoy the company of other brothers and sisters in Christ.  We become a part of God's Program here on earth.... the local church!! This morning, I'm reading in Leviticus and a few things struck me: 1) External Religion-  It seems I hear many people say, God doesn't care about the outside, only the inside!  But in the context of God telling the Israelites what foods were clean and unclean the Bible says in Lev. 11:45 "For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:  ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."  Here God equates "holiness" to what people ate!!  The whole of chapter 11 is just about what they could eat!! 2) DON'T TATTOO YOURSELF- I know it is a popular thing to do, but it has it's roots in a very heathen practice.  Lev. 19:28 says "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you:  I am the LORD."  God associates it with heathen gods and we should not do anything that makes God uncomfortable!! 3) LOOK WHO IS TALKING- In chapters 18 through 26, 43 times we see the phrase: "I am the LORD".  I think that over and over again, God is trying to tell the Israelites that these words are not just suggestions, nor are they the product of the priests, but "I am the LORD". 4) SEPARATION-  Biblical separation is a vital doctrine.  God wants His people to be separated.  Lev. 20 26 says "for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine."  We believe in separation because we have been "severed" by God from the world around us.  God wants His children to be different and noticeable so!! Well, time has run out for me.  I have more to say, but no more time.  Must go to church!!  Have a blessed day!!   Pastor Mike Mutchler