Manic Monday

Hello, hello, hello! Thanks for stopping by today on this "Manic Monday." Here's a little video of the song by the same name just to get you moving--it's one of my faves from when I was younger! (I know, I know . . . it wasn't THAT long ago!)



Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Sun, Feb. 22- When one enters a land and plants a tree, how long must one wait to eat the fruit of the tree?
Leviticus 19:25, “But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit.”

And here's the question of the day:
Mon, Feb. 23- What did the voice tell Peter to do?

And here's the reflection of the day:
I hope you don't mind, but we're going back into Leviticus again today. I'm (semi-desperately!) searching for a passage to preach on this Sunday so the more time I spend in it now, the better Bible Study and the sermon will be.

These particular chapters of the Holiness Code (see Sunday's post for more info about that) address qualities we should look for in our religious leaders. For those who are called to serve as leaders in God's kingdom must be held to a higher standard. A higher level of dedication and holiness should be in evidence if someone is to occupy a position of authority in a church--say an elder or a teacher.

I can't disagree with this, although in our little church, sometimes it's hard to find enough people to go around. Sometimes, warm bodies are all you can come up with . . . .

These chapters of Leviticus also talk a lot about the character of a leader's family. Not only the leader but also the leader's family should exemplify good character. This is actually a theme picked up in the New Testament too--Acts 6:3; 1 Tim 3; Titus 1:5-11.

I can't disagree with this either, although I've seen some pretty good parents with some pretty rotten kids. I actually know lots of parents whose kids were faithfully involved in every church activity in their younger days. Now that they are older and parents themselves, they never darken the door of a church. I don't know that we can always blame the parents for the sins of their children. . . .

These chapters also talk about how priests--in their persons and in their work--should model themselves after Christ himself--a Lamb without blemish, holy, and separate from sinners. Christ is the Great High Priest and the One who gave himself for the world in his priestly role.

Again, I can't disagree with this idea. But I'm afraid priests--and all members of the clergy actually--fall short of this Christ model, with a disturbing regularity. And it seems like it's never a small failure; instead it's a spectacular, headline-grabbing kind of failure. I know for myself I try to live by God's standards, but sometimes I'm just so weak. . . .

As I reflect on all this, it's interesting that I agree with all of what Leviticus says. And yet I find exceptions for each topic. But, I have to ask myself, are they really exceptions or are they actually excuses?

Friends, living out the holiness of Leviticus is just plain hard. And never will I live up to its (and God's) expectations because of my sin. But knowing that I never will is not an excuse to give up trying. This "Holiness Code" is meant as a standard to guide our behavior. But it is also meant as an example of the way life should be. . . the way we should live. . . and the way life is in the kingdom of God.

These kinds of passages point out what will be in God's kingdom. They give us glimpses of what we have to look forward to. . . what lies ahead for believers. Passages, like these from Leviticus, are not meant to burden us with guilt but to inspire us to be holy as our God is holy.

Are you leading a holy life? What parts are you proud of? What parts do you hope God isn't paying attention to? How can you work on making every part of your life holy?


Hope your Monday's not too manic!
Allison