nor shall he go near any dead body, nor defile himself for his father or his mother; nor shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing of God is upon him: I am the Lord. Leviticus 21:11-12
Little boys are known for wanting to play around in the dirt. They like to drive their toy trucks through the dirt, racing them. They like to run around playing games in a field of dirt, playing football or some other sport.
As children get older, they usually turn away from the dirt. They learn that it is not good to get so dirty.
However, people do not completely leave the dirt. As adults, they change the type of dirt that they play in. Instead of physical dirt on the ground, they play with the dirty things of the world, porn, slander, immoral sex, drugs, gossip, cheating, lying, and anything else sinful.
God had set the Levites aside to be His priests in the tabernacle. One of the things that changed for them was they were not to touch a dead person or make themselves unclean in any way, for any reason. They were anointed as holy and dedicated to God. They could not make themselves dirty even for their parents.
Believers have been made clean, set apart as holy unto God. Once they are set apart unto God, they are no longer to go back and make themselves dirty, dirty with the things of this world.
Some believers attempt to keep their foot still in the world. They want to continue to play in the dirt and filth of the sin of this world. Yet, they are to be a shining, clean light before God and this world of what Jesus has done for them.
There may be things that you are tempted to go back and play in. Things that are dirty and filthy to God. Do not allow yourself to get dirty after being cleaned by the blood of Jesus. Turn away from all sin.
When Jesus cleansed you from sin, He set you apart as holy and righteous unto God to minister in His sanctuary.
Seek God’s guidance to keep yourself clean from all sin. Follow God’s path for your life in order to stay out of the dirt of this life.
I pray today that you will know the cleansing salvation of Jesus; that you will be holy in Jesus before God and this world; that God will strengthen you to stay out of the dirt of sin; and that you will be a clean light of Jesus to this world.
Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash
As believers, we are set apart and cleansed by Jesus, just like the Levites were chosen to serve God in holiness. We are called to live a life free from the dirt of sin, things that defile us like gossip, lies, and immoral actions. Let us stay pure and focused on God’s path, avoiding the temptations of the world, and shine His light through our lives.
Amen! From the OT to the NT it changed from “you must obey” to “now I want to obey.” It is living the new and abundant life Jesus has provided for us.