Leviticus – Chapter 11

And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Leviticus 11:7 – Here we have the law that made it impossible for a Jewish person to enjoy bacon. In chapter 11 we have the Lord outlining what meats were acceptable for the people to eat (clean) and what meats were not allowed for them to eat (unclean). While the list of unclean animals is many, the amount of animals that were acceptable for the Jewish people were many as well. Yet what we see outlined in the verse above was a particular aspect the Jewish people had to watch out for. Just because something mostly checked the box of being clean, doesn’t mean it is clean. With pigs, the reason why it was considered unclean was because it didn’t chew the cud. Yes, it matched the other two criteria for being clean to eat, but because it didn’t match all the requirements, it was deemed an unclean animal to eat. How then does all that impact us today who are living in the new covenant (Beyond now we can eat bacon)? It reveals to us that God cares about the details, especially when it comes to something being holy or sinful. While something may be mostly alright, if it is partly sinful, then we ought to wholly stay away from it. If a TV show is mostly good, but has some sexual scenes in it that are wrong to watch, then we shouldn’t watch it. If a person we hang out with only sometimes leads us to sin, we still should re-evaluate our whole relationship with them. If something just has a little connection to sin, that still matters to the Lord. His direction is to be holy as He is holy, totally set apart from sin…even the small ones. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3213

Leviticus 11 Daily DEVO Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. Leviticus 11:4 – The camel was the first of a few examples God gave of animals that met a unique situation. They were almost ok to eat, but they didn’t fully meet up to God’s qualifications. That part that was not ok made them wholly not ok. We must remember that when we are choosing what we allow in our lives. Just because for the most part something lines up with what God says, if it’s not wholly meeting up with it then that means some part of it isn’t lining up with what God says. Be careful not to be deceived in thinking that just because something is only a little bit not good with God that it won’t have an effect on your life. Scripture tells us that just even a little sin can grow into something horrible. Be careful then what you allow in your life. Make sure it’s holy, meaning no part of it is not of God. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 893

For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:44a – I’m in a slow process of trying to memorize a verse from every book of the Bible and this verse is my Leviticus verse. Why? As we read through this chapter God is giving clear directions of what’s clean and what’s unclean. He goes into detail of which animals can be eaten and which ones can’t be. He calls the people to set themselves apart from these unclean animals and to see the idea of eating them as a detestable thing. God is calling them to be holy. Remember holy means to be set apart. God in His holiness is set far apart from sin of any kind. God now is calling us to be holy, set apart, just like He is. This passage for me has been a reminder that God has high expectations of me. He has made me holy through Jesus and now He expects me to live holy. To set myself apart from the sin I used to live in. To set myself apart from any way that isn’t pursuing God. Know that expectation isn’t just for the Israelites and me, it’s on you as well if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus. So, how set apart from sin are you? How holy is your story? What then is a single change you can make today to live more holy, more set apart for God? God is calling you holy, so now live as such. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1934