Knowing your Current Standing

Scripture: Everything the man sits on when riding will be unclean, and whoever touches any of the things that were under him will be unclean till evening; whoever picks up those things must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening. Leviticus 15:9-10

Observation: In this section, levitical law outlines all the ways people and things become unclean through bodily discharges. This is an entire chapter. In these two verses alone, when a man is unclean, everything he sits on or touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches any of those things becomes unclean. This is the common rule ... when one is unclean, things they touch become unclean, and whomever touches those unclean things becomes unclean.

Uncleanliness was not a sin. It is just a condition that defines whether you are worthy to be in God's presence. It is generally short-term, with a procedure to become clean. The point is, everyone must know when they are in an unclean state, must be careful what they do and touch, and must communicate to others to assist each other in avoiding - or at least knowing about - such a state.

And for the most part, this seems to be the point. The law produces a scenario where people must continually be thinking and talking about their standing in relationship with God. They must know if they are in "clean" or "unclean" standing, must proceed in their daily activities in accordance with that standing, and must continually tell others of their standing. In this way, almost every day, they must be thinking about their right relationship with God, and acting and talking with other in accordance to that current relationship.

Application: Imagine my life if every 10 minutes or so I thought about "am I in good standing with God right now?" and then adjusted my every activity to ensure a 'yes' answer. Today, this thought doesn't have to be about ... bodily discharges ... but instead about my faith in and love for Jesus.

Jesus takes the place of the law, but that doesn't mean my approach to a relationship with God should be less pervasive. My day should be consumed by ensuring I am in right relationship through my faith, tuning and adjusting my behavior accordingly, and communicating that status to others.

Prayer: Lord, while you laws were ever so confusing, your purpose has always been clear and has never changed. You seek a relationship with us, and with me. Thank you for being my father, my Abba, and for loving me. May I respond and seek you not just daily, but by every minute. Amen.