Final thoughts on Leviticus: Be Holy!

My brain is mushy. Not only do I have a headache because the weather is changing, but it's full to the brim with all that wonderful information I received at the American Christian Fiction Writers' conference!

BUT...

That won't stop me from posting my final thoughts on Leviticus!

Frankly, I'm glad I'm finished reading this book! These are not the most inspiring pages of the Bible. Yet God obviously wants us to read it and understand it. Why? Because we learn from history. We learn from example. We learn from mistakes. And Leviticus is FULL of history, examples and mistakes!

But there is one central theme throughout the book if you look close enough. Wade through the decrees and laws and really listen to what God is telling the Israelites. To what God is telling us:

"Be holy, because I am holy!" (11:44)

Think about it. How can we ever be considered holy? There is only one way.

By consecrating ourselves for God and His purposes. (11:44)

Years ago (probably the first time I truly read through Leviticus) I did a study on the word "consecrate." It means "to devote; dedicate; set apart as holy." I looked up every scripture that referenced it and wrote them down. I also recalled an old hymn titled "Take My Life" where we sang, "Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee." This truly became the theme of my life at that point.

I am consecrated for God. I wasn't always. I don't think every Christian is, either. I don't think a lot of people understand what it means to be consecrated. I didn't until I studied it. I may have already done it by giving myself wholly unto God for His purposes and just didn't realize I was consecrated. Certainly in my early years of childhood and going into adulthood I was not consecrated. I loved Jesus, but I was not devoted to Him. I was not dedicated to Him. And I certainly had not set myself apart as holy.

Leviticus can be dry reading, but there are lessons to be learned from it. I hope I've pointed out a few in this blog. Click on the label "Leviticus" if you missed them. I'm sure there are plenty more lessons to be learned from this challenging book that I missed this time and will have to catch next time.

Tomorrow I start in on Numbers! Oy! Numbers--the digits, not the book--and I do not get along at all! Just ask my husband, the keeper of our checkbook. It will be interesting to see what God can teach me through this book!