LEVITICUS

Today, I will be driving back home from Washington.  A great preachers meeting put on by Faith Baptist Church.  Heard Dr. Johnny Pope, Dr. Eric Capaci, Dr. Mike Ray, and Dr. David Gibbs (CLA).  What is amazing is that these are all my friends and I know them and they know me well, and have for many years.  What a joy to hear them preach and be blessed.  Also meeting with about 60 other preachers in the Northwest is a joy.  I stayed fellowshipping after the service till 12:30am there at the church.  Time flies.... but now I have to get home.  Here are just a few thoughts: *Leviticus is an expanded explanation of the laws of the Moses.  It deals with sacrifices, observances, leprosy, purity, and many other such things.  One of the key verses is:  Leviticus 11:47  "To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."   Every law had a reason, and the ultimate reason is that God wanted a people separated to Himself.  Other people and peoples served God.  This we forget, but there are so many other examples of this.  So it was not just to have people love God because many from other lands did so as well.  They understood the concept of the One True God and worshiped Him.  BUT, God wanted a special people through whose linage, His Son could come, so He wanted them to be special.   Remember what it says in the New Testament:  1 Peter 2:9  "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"   Did you see the phrase:  "peculiar people"?  This means a special people just for Him.   Now in the Old Testament, God wanted a special people through whom His Son could come.... In the New Testament, God wants a special people to which His Son is coming for.  In both cases.... God wants special people.  So "Come out from among them and be ye separate..." Well, this is the one key thought of the book, and all I have time for today... Think about it.   Pastor Mike Mutchler