Corona Devo 316

Sometimes God has us "camp-out" and spend extra time with certain Bible verses, and He always has purpose in doing so.  But let me kick off by saying that I (as a generally modest person),  would not be calling our attention to today's Chapter in Leviticus unless I had to, as it crosses way over from the propriety of encouraging one to "Love thy neighbor" (Matthew 22:39).  

In fact, one of the commands in Leviticus 18 pertains to our "neighbor", but would you expect God to have to tell us "Do not defile yourself by having sexual intercourse with your neighbor’s wife" (Leviticus 18:20)?  

Shocking, isn't it?  Crass and vulgar. Why would God say that to the Israelites, and to us today?  

Because God walks right in to sin-filled cities and sin-filled hearts.  He had a plan for the Israelites to be lights in the dark places, and He has one for us today.  He is taking us somewhere today, and we are not going to be in Kansas anymore.

God was taking the Israelites into Canaan, and the Canaanites did not know God or care to know Him.  As a result their evil acts were rampant.  God will not have us shy away from those that do not know Him, but rather, His will is to take us to them.  

But His warnings of protection over us are firm (and for good reason!): "So do not act...like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you."  (Leviticus 18:3).

The world of today is shifting, and the world of tomorrow may hold sinful opportunities that we've never even considered.  Depravity lives and spreads among those whose hearts are far from God.  The Lord's arms are open to receive, but while the sinful wander, we had best steer clear of their wickedness.

What wickedness?  

Sin.  We all have it.  God knows that.  The Canaanites were engaged in horrible physical sins (they were actually doing the things listed below), and God gave these instructions to the Israelites so that they would not become involved.  (Warning: explicit language and ideas, as prohibited by the Lord Almighty.)

6 “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord.

7 “Do not violate your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have sexual relations with her.

9 “Do not have sexual relations with your sister or half sister, whether she is your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether she was born into your household or someone else’s.

10 “Do not have sexual relations with your granddaughter, whether she is your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, for this would violate yourself.

17 “Do not have sexual relations with both a woman and her daughter. And do not take her granddaughter, whether her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, and have sexual relations with her. They are close relatives, and this would be a wicked act.

22 “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.

23 “A man must not defile himself by having sex with an animal. And a woman must not offer herself to a male animal to have intercourse with it. This is a perverse act.  ~Leviticus 18:6-7, 9-10, 17, 22-23

It's hard to know what to say after that, isn't it?  I've studied it for the past two mornings in Bible, and believe me, I want to move on, but God wasn't letting me.  

Why?

Because there is crass, vulgar, perverse sin running rampant in our world.  These are sexual examples, but the ideas, motives, thoughts and entitlements leading to these acts are sinful as well.  

God's stance is clear, and yet we have allowed sin to be masqueraded as "culture", "choices", "expression" and "freedom".

The people of Canaan were actively engaged in all of this.  And still God chose to lead His people into their city.  Why?

Because Christ-followers are here to make a difference for Christ, and God leads us into "cities of sin" to do that.   

But to do so we must first have a grounding of what God's Word says and what His rules are.

These are not conservative/Republican/right-wing/old-fashioned/prude stances.  These are God's stances.  If people (or we) have become attached and comfortable in their sin and want to argue it, then the argument is with God Almighty, not those of us who are seeking to follow God Almighty. 

Leviticus 18 is an outline of God telling His children not to get swept up in the culture, activities and accepted evils of the day.  

As we march forward in our walks-of-faith today, God knows that He is sending us into a depraved world, and His marching orders are clear: I am the Lord your God. (3) So do not act...like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. (4) You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the Lord your God. (5) If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.  ~Leviticus 18:2-5 

God walks right in to sin-filled cities and sin-filled hearts.  He had a plan for the Israelites to be lights in the dark places, and He has one for us today.  He is taking us somewhere today. 

Sin brings death.  But if (we) obey (His) decrees and...regulations, (we) will find life through them!

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/