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Thursday
February 4, 2010
Embodying Hope and Sharing God's Love
Introduction
Leviticus 19:1-18: God gives Moses guidelines for how the people of Israel
are to live together as God's holy people. They must put God first, work
for justice, treat others with honesty and respect, and work for harmony
in their interpersonal relationships.
Today's Scripture: Leviticus 19:1,2The LORD told Moses to say to the community of Israel, "Be holy, because I,
the LORD your God, am holy."
How is this Scripture passage speaking to me today? Today's Reading
1The
LORD told Moses
2to say to the community of Israel,
Be holy, because I, the
LORD your God, am
holy.
3Each of you must respect your mother and your father,
and must keep the Sabbath, as I have commanded. I am the
LORD your God.
4Do not abandon me and worship idols; do not make gods
of metal and worship them. I am the
LORD your God.
5When you kill an animal for a fellowship offering, keep
the regulations that I have given you, and I will accept the offering.
6The meat must be eaten on the day the
animal is killed or on the next day. Any meat left on the third day must
be burned,
7because it is ritually unclean, and if
anyone eats it, I will not accept the offering.
8Any who eat it will be guilty of
treating as ordinary what is dedicated to me, and they will no longer be
considered my people.
9When you harvest your fields, do not cut the grain at
the edges of the fields, and do not go back to cut the heads of grain that
were left.
10Do not go back through your vineyard
to gather the grapes that were missed or to pick up the grapes that have
fallen; leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the
LORD your God.
11Do not steal or cheat or lie.
12Do not make a promise in my name if you do not intend
to keep it; that brings disgrace on my name. I am the
LORD your God.
13Do not rob or take advantage of anyone. Do not hold
back the wages of someone you have hired, not even for one night.
14Do not curse the deaf or put something in front of the
blind so as to make them stumble over it. Obey me; I am the
LORD your God.
15Be honest and just when you make decisions in legal
cases; do not show favoritism to the poor or fear the rich.
16Do not spread lies about anyone, and
when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can
help him. I am the
LORD.
17Do not bear a grudge against others, but settle your
differences with them, so that you will not commit a sin because of them.
18Do not take revenge on others or continue to hate
them, but love your neighbors as you love yourself. I am the
LORD.
Reflect
Being a holy people did not simply mean that the Israelites should avoid
doing things that would make them unclean. It also meant that they should
look out for the needs of others, especially the poor. Are these
commandments relevant for us today? How can you apply them in your life?
Pray
God of Grace, teach me to be one of your holy people. Make me an instrument
of your peace and love that I may live and serve with justice, faith and
hope. Amen.
Prayer Concern
Aid workers in Haiti
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