I hope your week is starting out well, friends.

In my devotional times, I’ve jumped back to Leviticus, and am up to chapter 13. Here we find extensive instructions from the Lord specifying decisions priests are to make about the cleanness or uncleanness of various types of skin diseases among Israelites. The detail is amazing for those who were the “dermatologists of their day.” God wanted to make it very clear what is clean and unclean, infectious and not infectious. While this chapter is not the most riveting I’ve read from God’s Word, there are certainly applications, even beyond whether you have a “leprous disease,” an “itching disease,” or “leukoderma.”

Why was God so concerned about this? Because these were His chosen people. He cared about them and wanted to protect them. An infectious disease that was left unattended had the potential of wiping out the nation. God was not going to let that happen. Furthermore, God’s people are set apart and holy for Him, and are not to be integrated with the pagan people, practices and “diseases” around them. They are to remain clean and committed entirely to the Lord.

Application – According to Galatians 3:25-29, all who place their faith in Christ are children of God, “Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.” What an amazing privilege, and a precious gift, that we have been grafted into God’s family, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” This does not mean you need to tell your pastor every time you get a red spot on your skin, but that God cares about every cell of your body, that He wants to guard you from all infection, to protect you so that you remain pure and holy, keeping your conduct honorable among the Gentiles (1 Pet. 2:9-12).

Let’s live in keeping with our identity, not allowing any disease or infectious sin to encroach into our lives. Let’s live in the world in such a way that those around us “see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Pet. 2:12) Let’s confess when some leprous sin enters our life, and take whatever radical steps are necessary to cleanse ourselves. Since we are “a royal priesthood,” let’s guard each other so if we see an “infectious disease” in each other, we lovingly and respectfully encourage our brother or sister to repent and come back to Christ (Gal. 6:1). By God’s grace, may our lives reflect the beauty and glory of our God and Father to those around us.

Pressing on,
Eric