Reading for today
Old Testament: Leviticus 19, 20, 21
New Testament: Mark 9
Thoughts from today’s reading
Leviticus 19:9-10. After God had given the commands about the tabernacle and then the service to be performed in the tabernacle completing all the spiritual laws, He begins to give laws that relate to family, and community.
The commands about gleaning the fields helps us to understand better the scenario of Ruth in the fields of Boaz.
Leviticus 19:11-19. Injustice, partiality and slander against ones neighbour is strongly dissuaded. These verses give context about the command to love your neighbour as yourself. It starts off with refusing to hate a brother or sister for the sake of a wrong done to you, but we should rather address the hurt with them. You would not want someone to begrudge you or take vengeance against you, in like manner you should not do the same to your neighbour. This is loving them as yourself.
Mark 9:42-48. It is one thing to fall into a sin by yourself, but it is a totally different proposition when you entice others to sin. Jesus reveals that such will receive harsh judgement. This is why we must deal with our own weaknesses by cutting them off as Jesus describes, or by putting the deeds of our flesh to death as described in the writings of the apostles.
Prayer
1. Heavenly Father, your command to love our neighbour as ourselves is ranked as part of the greatest commandments. It is the commandment for the new covenant believer. I pray that the love of God poured out in my heart by your Holy Spirit will find expression towards others every day.
2. Lord I ask for strength to resist every temptation that comes my way as I obey your word and give no place to lusts and I put to death every deed of my flesh that entices me to sin. I thank you for the power of Christ which gives me the ability to overcome the sin that so easily besets me.