Knowing the Difference Between Holy and Ordinary; Clean and Unclean. Leviticus 9-10; Mark 7

May the mumbling commence!

As Christians, we are all holy, set-aside, priests for the Lord.  It is essential that we can discern between the holy and the ordinary, the clean and the unclean.  Read from Leviticus chapter ten:

Then the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be kept by all future generations.  You are to distinguish between what is holy and what is ordinary, what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean.  And you must teach the Israelites all the laws that the Lord has given through Moses." (Verses 8-11)

And, according to Jesus, this understanding comes from the depths of our being… our hearts.  Read from Mark chapter seven:

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand.  You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do! "     

Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had made.  "Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that what you eat won't defile you?  Food doesn't come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again." (By saying this, he showed that every kind of food is acceptable.) 

And then he added, "It is the thought-life that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God." (Verses 14-23)

Being clean comes from the heart and mind… the very center of our thoughts and attitudes that guide what we do.  O Holy Spirit, help keep us clean from the inside out.  Change our heart, O God. We want to be holy not ordinary.  We want to be clean not unclean.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out