February 7

February 7

Leviticus 19–21

Scripture Text: Leviticus 19:1–21:24

Series: Read the Bible in a Year

Too often (perhaps always) we read the second verse as something we have to do. And certainly, we should try to keep the commandments, to live righteously, to be holy or pious. Yet we should not bet on our ability to pull this off, nor for our efforts to make us right with God. One thing alone does that: faith in his grace through Christ. 

That faith in Christ alone should make us able to view verse two in a different light. It is also a promise. You shall be holy.  It is a promise God is making to his people. God makes unholy people holy every day. He makes sinners into saints. He makes the foulest clean. We do not accomplish these things; we apprehend them through faith. You shall be holy!

If you abide in him, as in a vine (John 15), you will bear good fruit — not because you are straining to do so, but because you are attached to him, he will produce fruit in you in spite of you. You shall be holy!

Today's reading provides many ways that God expects us to bear fruit through loving our neighbor. This can turn into a venture of seeking piety, becoming religious, self-righteous, and finally, judgmental. The promise of verse two would rescue us from this trap. We should not seek to be pious toward our neighbor; we should seek God who promises to cause us to love our neighbor.

Chapter 20 teaches against the abominations of child sacrifice and sexual immorality, two practices that were rampant in the ancient Near Middle East — and are still unbridled throughout the world today. 

More rules for priests fill chapter 21 (and will continue into chapter 22 tomorrow). 

Today's Word Search Puzzle — Print and solve

Today's Jigsaw Puzzle — Solve it online

Bible Reading Plan brochure — print it two-sided, trifold, and use as bookmark

Log in to add a comment

Click Here For Content Archives