Today's Scripture
I Am God ; Leviticus 20: 1-8
Today’s Reading Schedule: Leviticus 19-21 (CEB)- Click to read
From: The Message
1 God spoke to Moses: 2 “Tell the Israelites, Each and every Israelite and foreigner in Israel who gives his child to the god Molech must be put to death. The community must kill him by stoning. 3 I will resolutely reject that man and cut him off from his people. By giving his child to the god Molech he has polluted my Sanctuary and desecrated my holy name. 4 If the people of the land look the other way as if nothing had happened when that man gives his child to the god Molech and fail to kill him, 5 I will resolutely reject that man and his family, and him and all who join him in prostituting themselves in the rituals of the god Molech I will cut off from their people. 6 “I will resolutely reject persons who dabble in the occult or traffic with mediums, prostituting themselves in their practices. I will cut them off from their people. 7 “Set yourselves apart for a holy life. Live a holy life, because I am God, your God. 8 Do what I tell you; live the way I tell you. I am the God who makes you hol
Sue's Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
Leviticus continues to give us Gods commands. In chapter 19, God told Moses to teach all the people of Israel the 10 commandments. In chapter 20, God speaks to Moses again, about teaching his people of Israel his laws, however this time, punishment is attached to disobeying Gods commands. He speaks against the practice of sacrificing their children to a Canaanite God, Moloch. The children are burned to honor this pagan God.
God also speaks in verse 6 against a person consulting a wizard, a liar, or an enemy for advice. Notice that the punishment attached to disobeying God is death. Chapter 20 continues to speak against additional offenses, all which are punishable by death. God knew the people were sinning and did not obey his commandments. He told Moses to make sure all of the people knew the laws, and to make sure they could not excuse themselves by not knowing the law.
Verses 7 and 8 state our focus for our lives. We are to be holy, to cleanse ourselves from sin, consecrate ourselves to service and honor of God and to conform ourselves in every way to his holy will and image. In our actions and words we are to be obedient to the laws of God. God’s people are and must be people of distinction because God has distinguished us by his holy covenant. We cannot just profess to have a relationship with God; he will be of no security to you. Your focus must be to preserve your honor to God by preserving the purity of our own souls. We never want to do anything to make us abominable to God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the guidance you have so clearly put before us. Help us to discern this holy walk with you, recognizing your will and letting go of ours. Forgive us for sin. We ask you to help us “make our tree good, so that the fruit of our tree will be good.”
In Jesus Christ. Amen
Contributed by Sue McCoy
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