Yea!......Leviticus?

How often do you read through the book of Leviticus? It's not exactly one of those you turn gingerly to for comfort or are able to reminisce about in lieu of that favorite verse you learned as a child from. Leviticus is a bunch of do's and don'ts: It's a book of laws. Now, I've never asked a lawyer, but I don't even think it gets them excited. Sentimental perhaps, but not giddy.

Why is it so important for us to read today? We live under grace, so why bother with the old laws?

First, we need to realize that we can never appease God with our own abilities. Not only was Leviticus a book to show the Israelites what they must do to reconcile to God for the wrong they do, but it also screamed at them that they were unable to keep even those “appeasements” perfectly. It's a great reminder of how unclean we are in our flesh. Do you realize that the word “unclean” is used 110 times in Leviticus alone? And the word “uncleanness” is used 19 times! No wonder Isaiah fell on his knees before the Lord and cried, “Woe to me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the Ling, the Lord of Hosts.” Isaiah 6:5 We desperately need grace in order to be cleansed. Praise God He made it available to us! “For it is by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8

Another point about Leviticus, which should bring a bit of happiness, is that we don't have to follow those rules! Every time I read them I get tired. Can you imagine trying to follow them? The lack of ulcer medicine alone from stress over keeping them saves me a fortune. This is not to say our actions don't matter, they just don't hinge on it. It's our heart – our motivation – that matters most now, “... because we are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14b) Reading Leviticus should make us want to shout our thanksgiving and praise to Jesus Christ for just part of what He saved us from!

Go read a few chapters today, and every time your mind wanders or gets bogged down praise Him that we live under His marvelous grace!