Today's reading is full of dietary and sanitary regulations. You might ask what that has to do with us today. I find a corollary in these regulations and the spiritual food and health of the modern church.
There is an old saying - you are what you eat. That's true not only of our stomachs but of our minds.
We are bombarded day in and day out by all kinds messages. Some of them want to sell us things to make our lives easier, or more prosperous looking. Some of them tout medications to take care of illnesses we would not have if we followed God's rules. Others give us pictures that are unclean for our minds. Still more urge us to condone activities that God has clearly forbidden.
God tells us to stay clear of those things which draw us away from Him. He clearly states that we are to be set apart as His people. Yes, this makes us different. Sometimes it makes us the target of ridicule or aspersions.
We could be more comfortable if we were more like the rest of the world. Perhaps we should not seek to assimilate into society quite so completely.
We just need a small space of common ground from which we can tell the rest of the world why we're different. To spread the good news of our God.
Father, God,
Help us to remain Your people set apart. Help us to guard our hearts and eyes and ears that no unclean thing enters our spirits. May we always focus on You and who You have called us to be.
In Jesus' most precious name.
Amen.
Amen.
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