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Leviticus 14-15 - okay this is alot about skin infections,mildew, dysentery, semen discharge and menustration.  Why is so much space given to these things in the Bible?  God was trying to teach His people through simple acts that they were to be holy.  Holiness happens through obedience.  Any person can follow these instructions - it’s not hard.  Now as Christians we do not follow all of these procedures because we are being transformed from the inside out - the Holy Spirit at work in us.  However, don’t miss the great truth of these chapters - Think about daily happenings of life and let God show obedience in them.

Psalm 42 - Please let my heart long for you like this.

Matthew 19:1-15 - Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce.  First, God’s intention is for marriage to last “till death do us part.”  Second, God knows the hardness of our heart - that’s why Moses allowed for divorce.  Jesus was answering one of the great controversy of his day and ours - Is casual divorce okay?  The answer is “No.”  Is divorce allowed when there is ongoing unfaithfulness?  Yes.  Other examples of permissible divorce - when the expectations of marriage are unfulfilled - food, clothing and martial rights (intimacy?) - Exodus 21:10-11.  See also 1 Corinthians 715 - when divorce is permissible when a spouse leaves because they are not a believer.

Acts 26:1-18 - When Jesus asks Paul why he kicks against the goads, you may not understand if you didn’t grow up around cows.  I did.  When you want a cow in a confined space to go in a certain direction, you poke her in the rump with a stick, also called a goad.  She will often lash out, because she wants to go at her own pace or because she wants to go in her own direction.

Here’s the truth - We are often like a cow.  God has a plan and purpose for our lives, but we kick!  We tell God we want to go our own way.  Paul has direction in life but it has been the wrong one - so quit kicking and go with God’s direction.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 11:09 am and is filed under Scripture reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.