Yesterday’s lesson on Leviticus is important as a basis for todays continuing “living lessons from Leviticus.

Chap. 6:1-5 is interesting.  If you steal something and then decide to return it, you must add 20% of the value.  Another scripture says that about paying your tithes.  If you do not pay tithes in a timely manner, you must add 20% when you get around to catching up! I would like to see our justice system arrange a way for thieves to make restitution. If a thief steals a hundred dollars from me, I’d rather have my hundred and twenty back than have her/him spend a month in jail. Now I know there are hardened criminals that have to be removed from others. But that’s a different issue. This passage of scripture is referring to neighbors who have entrusted one another with some item of value. I think it supports the idea of restitution in other thefts.

Chap. 9:7 and 22  Nice picture of what the priests (leaders) should do for the people.  We are blessed when we have good pastors who care for, pray for, and give blessings to their congregation.

Chap. 9:23-24  show how God’s glory came down in the tabernacle and how the people responded.  One of the things that breaks my heart is that so many people under about sixty have not witnessed the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in churches of today.  Many denominations have not allowed “freedom” of worship in their congregations for many years if ever.  Truthfully there are many churches where God may not even stroll through for a visit.  🙂 

But the good thing is that one does not have to be in a church building to have an awesome awareness of the presence of the Lord.  Try just wholeheartedly giving him your focused worship and see if He responds in some way. 

Chap 11:44-45 tells me to be holy as God is holy.  Whoa there! Impossible?  Yes, that is why we must have Him to be holy in us.  One visual image scripture uses is “to cloth” ourselves in righteousness. Chap 20:7,8 says to “sanctify” yourself, it also says that He (God) sanctifies us.  Most translations use the word “consecrate” instead of “sanctify.”  We cannot change ourselves just by making a decision to avoid sin; we have to have the help of the Holy Spirit.

The experience of sanctification is explained differently among church denominations, but I believe all churches teach some form of sanctification. I have an essay I hope to use before long which dwells more on this subject. Like all my lessons, it is pretty simple not very deep in theological language and concepts.

Tomorrow we will take a look at these chapters: 18, 19, 20, 23, and 26 Hope you will be back.