Today's Scripture
Leviticus 11-12
Observation - Leviticus 11:43-45
You shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean. 44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”
This entire chapter is a discussion of which kinds of animals are "clean" and "unclean." Which ones may be eaten and which may not be. It is not exactly exciting reading, but it is God's word and it is applicable.
What I observed in this chapter is that God has purposes for all of his creation, whether clean or unclean, and he takes his purposes seriously. He does not want me to misuse his creation, to overvalue nor undervalue it. Some animals are made to be eaten, and others not, but all of them have a purpose. "Unclean" does not mean "bad," and "Clean" does not mean "Good." For example, the locust is considered "clean." It may be eaten. However most people in an agricultural society would not call a locust "good." They are destructive. But they have certain purposes, and used correctly they are acceptable. God says they are clean. They are not evil. They are part of his creation.
An unclean animal, such as a buzzard or eagle, is a fine animal when it is serving its purpose, and very bad when it is serving the wrong purpose. Likewise, a "clean" animal, such as a fish, is fine to eat, but would not necessarily be good for other purposes. God designed everything with a set of purposes, and intends for us to use them and treat them accordingly.
Application
I need to make sure that the things God has put into my life are used correctly, according to his purposes. I do not want to misuse something he has given me in a way that would make it unclean. If the thing in my life is bad, I need to use it in a clean way. A hardship, treated rightly, can make me closer to God. A hardship treated wrongly will drive me away. A blessing treated rightly will make me closer. A blessing treated wrongly will drive me away.
How can I take whatever life throws at me and use it in a "clean" way that brings me closer to God, not farther?
Prayer
Jesus I want to be closer to you! I want to take everything this world gives me and use it rightly so I can be clean and approach you. Forgive me for misusing blessings and hardships. Forgive me for using things for my own purposes and ignoring yours.
Jesus
Jesus was made unclean and scorned, but he used the horror of death on a cross to make me clean and bring me to God.