Monday after the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 12, 2022 by under
Scripture: Leviticus 18:1-5 (NKJV)
18:18 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.'”
Devotion
In John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples: “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” From childhood, the faithful are taught to be in the world, but not of the world.
The words of Leviticus 18 remind us that this is not a new teaching; Israel had to be reminded of this truth in preparation to live in the land promised to Abraham. As they were in their pilgrimage from Egypt to Canaan, the people were to understand that the “doings” and “ordinances” of neither place were to be found among the people of God. Obviously, the rejection was not of such “doings” and “ordinances” as were consistent with the moral law (for the Lord does not contradict Himself, and the Word of God declares: “…whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God…” [Rom. 13:2]); rather, the faithful of all generations must refuse all such things of this world as are contrary to the Word. That which may be ‘legal’ may be immoral, and must be rejected. The life of repentance requires refusing that which is evil, regardless of the kings or presidents who may support such wickedness.
Prayer: Almighty and Everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
