In Deut. 14, Moses is reminding the Israelites of their unique standing as God’s chosen people. God‘s plan back then as well as His plan for Israel in the last days involves reaching the world with the “Good News” through the nation’s faithful witness. He reminded them if their witness was to be effective, they would have to be a holy nation, distinctively peculiar when compared to the pagan nations surrounding them. Notice V2 “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Moses said that God’s people should be different in their views and practices regarding:
1. Societal trends
V1 “Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
2. Health & well being
V3 “Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.”
3. Wealth
V22 “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.”
4. Work ethic
V29 “And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.”
LESSON - Christians today should desire to be a peculiar, holy people as well. Imagine if God’s people were to stop looking and acting like the world. What if we reminded ourselves every day that our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, created for His glory rather than our amusement? Consider the impact our lives would have upon the lost world around us if we viewed our resources as well as our ability to increase our wealth as an opportunity to serve the needs of others in Jesus’ name. Consider these four areas of your life in the light of this challenge in 1 Cor. 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
~Mike
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