SOAP 02/25/2015; Leviticus 11:46-47

Today's reading: Leviticus 11

S) "⁴⁶ This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, ⁴⁷ to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten."

Leviticus 11:46-47 (NASB)

O) These verses come at the close of the chapter, which is all about clean and unclean animals for food. Because Jesus declared that food cannot make a person unclean (see Matthew 15:11), the prescripts of this chapter are not particularly important. It is the concept over all of this, that is most important and must be highlighted. God was commanding them in the things they ate, in order to make a distinction - not just in the foods they ate and didn't eat, but in who they were and who they were not. In the preceding verses (44-45), God reminds the people the He is holy, and they should be holy. He tells them to "consecrate" themselves, which means to separate or set aside for special purpose. I chose to highlight the verses above, because of that word: distinction. God wants it to be obvious to everyone around, that His people are His people.

A) While I do not have to concern myself with kosher eating, my life should still be distinctly different than those in the world. There can be a lot of pressure to conform to culture, to fit in with the crowd, to adapt - all in the name of evangelism. But, the very thing that draws people to Christ the most, should be the distinction that Christians have as different. When people tire of what the world has to offer, they should look at us - at me - and see that I have something different. My life should carry a distinction - not by the food I eat, but how I live my life. The peace, compassion, joy, and love that Christ brings me should be evidently distinct to everyone.

P) Father, You are so good to me. You have redeemed my life, which was a complete mess without You. Then You continued to bless me, adding joy and peace and love to my life in measures I could not rightly ask to have. I pray that the impact You have had in my life is evident to anyone who sees me. Let me display Your grace to others, that they would see the peace, compassion, joy, and love that You have put into my life, through the way that I live. Be glorified and praised through the life I live, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.