Passage of the Day:
“‘I will set my face against any Israelite or any foreigner residing among them who eats blood, and I will cut them off from the people. 11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.[c] 12 Therefore I say to the Israelites, “None of you may eat blood, nor may any foreigner residing among you eat blood.” 13 “‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing among you who hunts any animal or bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with earth, 14 because the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood; anyone who eats it must be cut off,” Leviticus 17:10-14.
Reflection:
Before turning His attention toward external actions in Leviticus 18, God informs Moses to be careful about what you consume. The chapters leading up to Leviticus 17 focus on what can make your body ceremonially unclean. While the emphasis here is to avoid eating meat which still contains blood, there are numerous unhealthy stimulants today that should be avoided. Growing up in New Jersey, products with caffeine and sugar were not made available to me. When my family moved to Delaware, junk food was allowed for special celebrations, but was limited most of the time. As a high school runner and swimmer, I was forced to eat healthy, manly to avoid cramping up. Now as an adult, advertisements, commercials and infomercials bombard me with sales pitches to try this or that. Although I tried coffee early on as a teenager, I’ve become a loyal consumer of soda and tea. Despite knowing that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, I weekly fail to demonstrate temperance in what I consume. While I was successful early on in January participating in a Daniel Fast with fruits, vegetables and water, I’ve falling back into bad eating habits.
Prayerful Action:
Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables, Romans 14:1-2.
Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:
Every year, my commitment to the Lord fluctuates based upon the spiritual hunger deep inside my heart. From time to time, I’ll be convicted and moved to abstain from eating items with unhealthy stimulants. Yet, when I’m depressed, losing hope and troubled, I’ll find myself gouging an entire bag of chips and a couple of Pepsi’s before I realize what I’ve just consumed. These are the ebbs and flows of my faith journey. Rather than getting carried away like a legalistic Pharisee, it’s better to openly confess any wrong doings to the Lord, seeking help and direction for the future, James 5:16. Cutting out unhealthy stimulants from your life needs to be addressed one day at a time, relying on a significant other to guide and steer you toward a healthier life. Celebrate the little victories, one step at a time.
Song of the Day:
My high school swim coach introduced me to For Annie just before one of my teammates took his own life. As America finds itself in the middle of an Opioid Crisis, may the lyrics of today’s song open your eyes to reach out to a co-worker, friend or neighbor struggling with unhealthy stimulants that they are consuming their soul.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 