Leviticus 15
Seems like I am always reminding my grandchildren to dress warmly enough, or wear a hat in the winter, to get enough sleep at night, to eat right or exercise. Lately, I have been reminding them not to befriend people on FaceBook that they don't know. Seems like I have to keep reminding them of the same things over and over again. Honestly, they both think I'm a really mean gramma. They just don't seem to get the why of all these rules for health and safety. And, it doesn't matter to me any more if they get it. It only matters that they follow the rules, not for my sake, for theirs because I love them.
We don't always get the why of some of the rules that God laid out for his people, either. These rules for bodily discharges seem a little much to many of us. But, let me assure you that God did not come up with all these rules just for his sake. They are there for our sake because God loves us. Think of some of these things as not just rituals that might appease God, but more like guidelines to healthy living - Dr's orders. What diseases was God worried that people might be spreading? How about gonorrhea as one example? It is quite possible with the advancement of Science many of the health codes of early days are no longer necessary. But, let us not write God off as a mean God, who likes to make rules for the sake of controlling. God does not force His will upon us. But, he will guide and lead us in His Way. We can choose or not to follow, to do what is right and good and even healthy for our own sake and the sake of others. But, remember too, although we are free to choose how we live our daily lives in this world, that does not make it good or right or healthy for us or others.
May God help us to see His graciousness to us in that he cares enough to give us guidelines (laws if you will) for daily living. May He help us to listen to him.
Seems like I am always reminding my grandchildren to dress warmly enough, or wear a hat in the winter, to get enough sleep at night, to eat right or exercise. Lately, I have been reminding them not to befriend people on FaceBook that they don't know. Seems like I have to keep reminding them of the same things over and over again. Honestly, they both think I'm a really mean gramma. They just don't seem to get the why of all these rules for health and safety. And, it doesn't matter to me any more if they get it. It only matters that they follow the rules, not for my sake, for theirs because I love them.
We don't always get the why of some of the rules that God laid out for his people, either. These rules for bodily discharges seem a little much to many of us. But, let me assure you that God did not come up with all these rules just for his sake. They are there for our sake because God loves us. Think of some of these things as not just rituals that might appease God, but more like guidelines to healthy living - Dr's orders. What diseases was God worried that people might be spreading? How about gonorrhea as one example? It is quite possible with the advancement of Science many of the health codes of early days are no longer necessary. But, let us not write God off as a mean God, who likes to make rules for the sake of controlling. God does not force His will upon us. But, he will guide and lead us in His Way. We can choose or not to follow, to do what is right and good and even healthy for our own sake and the sake of others. But, remember too, although we are free to choose how we live our daily lives in this world, that does not make it good or right or healthy for us or others.
May God help us to see His graciousness to us in that he cares enough to give us guidelines (laws if you will) for daily living. May He help us to listen to him.
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