The Levites

The Lord spoke to Moses: "Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them. This is what you must do to them for their purification: sprinkle them with  the purification water. Have then shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves. They are to take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. Bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community. Then present the Levites to the Lord and have the Israelites lay hands on them.
Numbers 8: 5-10
 
Cleansing speaks of separation and preparation
Sacrifice speaks of cost
Having the Israelites lay hands on them speaks of dedication
 
Being a Christian involves all three. It is not just a matter of feeling convicted of sin, feeling warm and fuzzy or feeling anything in particular. Christianity is about separation, sacrifice and dedication.
 
God was making it pain to all that being a Levite cost something. The Levite could not own land, they had to dedicate themselves to 25 years of service, they had to watch their step or they were dead, they were required to live a certain way, set apart.
 
Deciding to follow Christ is much like becoming a nun or a priest, dedicated, separated and willing to pay the price. Yet we do not have to become nuns or priests, although we could, if that was what we wanted to be.
 
I cannot do certain things, watch certain things, eat and drink certain things, speak certain things. As a dedicated follower of Christ I am constrained by His Holy Spirit. When I act unbecomingly I am convicted and go to God to ask for a better way. He has the way, the truth and the life, much better to go to Him than live out of my own well.
 Amen!


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