DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018 CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOOD TEXT: Leviticus 11:13-28

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

CLEAN AND UNCLEAN FOOD

TEXT: Leviticus 11:13-28

Key Verse: “And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind” (Leviticus 11:13,14)

One aspect of scriptures that has generated controversy is the subject of clean and unclean meats. The balanced teaching of the Scriptures is that one should not be condemned based on eating or not eating any particular food.

Chapter eleven of Leviticus deals specifically with the subject of clean and unclean foods. God listed some of the creatures on the land, some clean and some unclean – the clean ones they could eat, the unclean ones they were to avoid. The categories of those that are in the water were referred to as being abhorrent. The flying birds and insects are described; some birds are classified unclean. All flying insects are called unclean, with the exception of those that have a set of jumper legs with which they can leap through the air and thus propel themselves through the air. While jumping, flying insects are edible, the rest are not.

The dietary laws about “clean” and “unclean” meats are among the most unique yet puzzling instructions found in the Bible. For long, these laws have been a striking mark of identity separating God’s people from the world (Leviticus 20:25,26). Consequently, for centuries, these same instructions have been a source of controversy and confusion among various religious groups who claim to get their beliefs from the same book – the Bible.

The balanced teaching of Scriptures is that we should not judge one another on the basis of meat, observance of special days and the likes. We should not allow our personal views about what is clean or unclean to destroy, especially the weak believers whom Christ has redeemed (1 Corinthians 8). The credo for God’s saints is simply this: in essentials of Scriptures, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Christ commands to preach the Word, not teach about food.
COVER to COVER: NUMBERS 31-32_

PONDER:
1. Clean and unclean meats ended with the Old Testament economy. In the New Testament, it is a false doctrine to teach against eating of any meat ITimothy 4:3,4. However there are lessons for NT saints.
2. As there are only 2 classifications of animals along moral lines, the same with humans. You are either clean or unclean; nothing in between before God. Are you clean?
3. The original and main purpose of creation of animals is to be meat for man Genesis 9:1-3. The unclean animals cannot fulfil the purpose of creation. Likewise, an unclean person cannot fulfil God's purpose for his/her life.
4. Observe that in the text, abomination and uncleanness are used interchangeably. All the products of an unclean person including service, worship and giving to God are abominable and unacceptable to God. There must be cleansing from sin and worldliness first.

HYMN: Wash me O Lamb of God (GHS 40)

1. Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin;
By Thine atoning blood,
Oh, make me clean;
Purge me from ev’ry stain,
Let me Thine image gain,
In love and mercy reign
O’er all within.

2 Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin;
I long to be like Thee,
All pure within;
Now let the crimson tide,
Shed from Thy wounded side,
Be to my heart applied,
And make me clean.

3 Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin;
I will not, cannot rest
Till pure within;
All human skill is vain,
But Thou canst cleanse each stain
Till not a spot remain,
Made wholly clean.

4 Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin;
By faith Thy cleansing blood
Now makes me clean;
So near Thou art to me,
So sweet my rest in Thee,
Oh, blessed purity!
Saved, saved from sin.

5 Wash me, O Lamb of God,
Wash me from sin;
Thou, while I trust in Thee,
Wilt keep me clean;
Each day to Thee I bring
Heart, life, yea, ev’rything;
Saved while to Thee I cling,
Saved from all sin.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, let the blood of Jesus rinse and cleanse my heart, motives and soul afresh till there is no uncleanness in me.
2. Give me grace to discover and fulfil the purpose of my existence.
3. Separate me from every unclean habits and relationships.
4. Let the blood of Jesus be mighty to wash every member of the church whiter than snow.