RTW 2023

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “If anyone…
Leviticus 13:1-2a

God handles the “ifs” with instructions and rules.

• God’s instructions are meant to be followed; they aren’t suggestions.
• God knows what we need to help us to live fully and freely, and sometimes that living requires rules.
• God sets rules and guidelines in place not to restrict, but to protect.
• God’s grace, mercy, and love accompany every instruction.

Leviticus 14 is full of instructions concerning purification and ceremonial cleanliness. In the last chapter, we learned about the diagnosing of skin rashes and handling of infectious mildew. The ceremonially unclean were to avoid contact with people and were prohibited from normal activity.

People seem to fall into one of three categories (Which are you?):

• Rule follower
• Rule breaker
• Rule challenger

His ways are for:

• Protection for us, and others.
• Education… reminding me who’s in charge.
• Glorification… God’s not mine.
• Reformation… the reforming of me to be like Him.

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The catch all that clarification for every rule and instruction:

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9

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Memorize Isaiah 55:8-9