Leviticus 17-18; Matthew 26:1-35
As we pick up our reading in Leviticus, we read many things that seem to go against our culture today. There are so many "hot-button" issues read here in today's world. It is easy to set our standards to the people around us, the news on the television, or to the "norm" of today. However, God has asked us to be set apart. He has made us to be set apart, as we stand in alignment with His standard, rather than try to continually mold to the ever-changing standard of the world around us.
God set up the laws for the Israelites so they may represent who they truly stand for. As the Israelites were tempted to take on the behaviors of the world around them, God reminded them "you must keep MY decrees and MY laws." (Leviticus 18:4) These laws weren't meant to be a "buzzkill" but serve as guidelines and protection for your heart. A heart for Christ is one that is set apart from the rest of this world's temptations, and we are truly surrounded by those. We can tie these Old Testament laws right in with the New Testament command: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world." (Romans 12:2)
What about grace? The beauty of our giving in to temptations is that God offers grace to those who ask for it. As we read in Matthew, while the "religious leaders" were plotting to kill Jesus at a time that made them look good, Jesus was showing compassion and grace to a woman who was truly displaying her allegiance to Him. This woman, in the same manner of what Christ did for us, gave all she had to Him by breaking her jar for Him. This jar represented her future, her status, her wealth, all she had. She gave Him her all. While the disciples were condemning her, and the religious leaders were plotting to kill Jesus, Jesus blessed this woman. Are you setting your own standards as you criticize and judge, or are you truly offering your all to Jesus, striving to live for Him by His Words?
The Last Supper is a symbol of Christ's grace to us yet today, as we celebrate communion, remembering what He has done for us. As the disciples sit around the table with Him, we can see how standards come into play. Judas, who has just accepted money to sell Jesus out. Peter, who will deny Him. A slew of humans who will or have screwed up, even though they spent time with Jesus and doing His work. Yet, Christ's body was broken for us. Yet, Christ's blood was spilled for us. What do we do in remembrance of Him daily?
Living by the standards of this world is a very easy thing to do. We look at our neighbor and say "at least we're not that bad". We watch as the world shifts into modern customs and culture encourages things that are unacceptable to God, and get more open about where we set our allegiances. If your standard is looking at your neighbor or at the media, it's time to set a new standard. A three-year old can draw a very curvy line on a paper, and you can draw yours next to theirs and say "mine is WAY straighter". Yet God can make the perfect line and your line will then look imperfect. Grace has leveled that line for us. Just know who's standards you are living by.
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