It is very important to stop and consider all that God has done in our lives to this day. In fact, it is pleasing to God when we seek Him as soon as we rise each morning because the more we realize God is in all the details of our lives, seeks to protect us from harm, loves us enough to save our souls from evil and then provides all we need and then pours out blessing beyond all we think or imagine—only then will we learn to live our lives in gratitude for who we are.
We are children of the Father God who created us in His own image and created the world in which we are told to care for and manage in His Name for His glory. We are a people made holy by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, the Messiah sent to earth to seek and to save the lost while demonstrating the relentless, tremendous love of God who is Love. To all who believe, God has chosen us His adopted children to be included into His family as His treasured possessions forever! Now, there is no difference between the Jews or Gentiles, men or women, poor or rich, or shade of skin color—As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13
And for that reason, God gives His people commands and decrees to follow for our own safety and protection in our daily lives. God knows the world and everything in it. God knows what is good to eat and what is not in that time and in that place. Moses relays God’s commands and Joshua follows up with the same when they enter the Promised Land and reside there. God also knows exactly what we need when we need it; if only we would listen! We would probably live healthier! God is all the details of our lives because He loves us. So, put down those French fries and stop over indulging in the bacon and fried cheese stacked hamburger! Overindulgence and gluttony is also taught in God’s Word as being “unclean” ways to eat!
As His people, the sheep of His pasture through out the world, may we listen to our Shepherd and do what He says for our good and for His glory. God knows what He is talking about for He created all. All belongs to God. We are also told to give back a portion of all God has provided so to help others who are in need and for those who serve us. This is one of many joyful ways to worship the God we love and give Him glory. That’s who we are—or should be.
Deuteronomy 14
Clean and Unclean Food
You are the children of the Lord your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, 2 for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
3 Do not eat any detestable thing. 4 These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep. 6 You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. 7 However, of those that chew the cud or that have a divided hoof you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the hyrax. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof; they are ceremonially unclean for you. 8 The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
9 Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales. 10 But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.
11 You may eat any clean bird. 12 But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, 13 the red kite, the black kite, any kind of falcon, 14 any kind of raven, 15 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, 17 the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, 18 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.
19 All flying insects are unclean to you; do not eat them. 20 But any winged creature that is clean you may eat.
21 Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Tithes
22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
God gave the Israelites directives that helped them keep His priorities. The principles we follow today also help us keep our perspectives in line with His thinking. God’s Holy Spirit who comes to live in all believers gives the power to obey what is right and true which pleases God. Because the Holy Spirit leads us to all that is truth; we have spiritual discernment in decision making in all the details that arise each day about what do we eat, what should we wear, who should we talk with and what words should be said that will be truthful, helpful, encouraging, inspiring, necessary, and kind so others will know Jesus by seeing and hearing Jesus in us.
God also gave His People holidays and times of celebration. God wants us to have joy in our relationship with him and with others, too! We are given times to give God glory, praise, and thanksgiving on our family and church calendars, too! May the reasons for celebrations be pure and holy, helpful and inspiring for if it is not, we might be celebrating with wrong motives. God knows our hearts. Jesus warned the Pharisees and other religious teachers of doing right things for wrong reason.
Jesus loves celebrations and being with His friends! Wait, what? The perfect example of this was a family wedding where all his family were in attendance. He had just chosen his disciples who would follow him for three years. This might have been their first party to attend together. Imagine these new disciples watching to see what The Teacher will do at the wedding where the culture dictates singing, eating, drinking the good stuff, and dancing until dawn for most of a week! How will this holy man of God act and respond at the party? Jesus invited his new friends to join him and have some much needed fun! Who they saw was the Son of Man/Son of God enjoying himself with his family! God created joy. Jesus demonstrates joy in being with others to celebrate this special occasion of a marriage! How beautiful!
Max Lucado gives a new perspective concerning The Wedding Feast (John 2:1-11) where Jesus would be asked by his mom to turn water into wine so the hosts would be saved from embarrassment. Consider another perspective for why he attended—
“His purpose wasn’t to turn the water to wine. That was a favor for his friends. His purpose wasn’t to show his power. The wedding host didn’t even know what Jesus did. His purpose wasn’t to preach. There is no record of a sermon. Really leaves only one reason. Fun. Jesus went to the wedding because He liked the people, He liked the food, and heaven forbid, he may have even wanted to swirl the bride around the dance floor a time or two.
So, forgive me, Deacon Drydust and Sister Somberheart. I’m sorry to rain on your dirge, but Jesus was a likable fellow. And his disciples should be the same. I’m not talking debauchery, drunkenness, and adultery. I’m not endorsing compromise, coarseness, or obscenity. I am simply crusading for the freedom to enjoy a good joke, enliven a dull party, and appreciate a fun evening.
Maybe these thoughts catch you by surprise. They do me. It’s been awhile since I pegged Jesus as a party lover. But he was. His foes accused him of eating too much, drinking too much, and hanging out with the wrong people! (See Matthew 11:19.) I must confess: it’s been a while since I’ve been accused of having too much fun. How about you?
We used to be good at it. What has happened to us? What happened to clean joy and loud laughter? Is it our neckties that choke us? Is it our diplomas that dignify us? Is it the pew that stiffens us? Loosen up. Don’t you have some people to hug, rocks to skip, or lips to kiss? Someone needs to laugh at Bugs Bunny; might as well be you. Someday you’re going to learn to paint; might as well be now. Someday you’re going to retire; why not today? Not retire from your job, just retire from your attitude. Honestly, has complaining ever made the day better? Has grumbling ever paid the bills? Has worrying about tomorrow ever changed it?
Let someone else run the world for a while. Jesus took time for a party . . . shouldn’t we? Remind yourself of what is important. Take some time to just enjoy all that God has given you. Take a walk with your family. Send money to someone in need. Be a volunteer. Spend time worshiping God. Allow your perspective to be refocused.” –Lucado, The Encouraging Word Bible
Seek God first, believe all He says, quickly respond with joy, following His lead in all things of this world in preparation for the next—heaven—the biggest party of all! Why?
“…and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” Deuteronomy 13:29
Lord,
Every Word teaches us a new perspective of who you are with who we are in you as your chosen, your holy children, your beloved and your treasured possession. We belong to you—the One and Only who created us and loved us so much you came to earth to save our souls and redeem us from the evil of this world, all so we may enter heaven cleansed and holy with confident joy and everlasting peace! To You be the glory! Lead me, Lord in all I think, say, eat, wear, and do. Be in all the details of life for you are Life! May Your Kingdom come; Your Will be done.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 