I'm pretty sure I had either wind-whipped hair or poor posture from being cured up in the fetal position after the message on Leviticus. I was surprised to find that I had a lot to say and talk about with the "BBQ Book" as I like to call it. All joking aside, I feel deep fried every time I read Leviticus. I told you I liked metaphors, stop rolling your eyes.
Current Reality.
I have a confession to make. A few actually...
#1 I LOVED Django unchained
#2 Jay z was one of the best shows I have ever seen
#3 Dexter
#4 The Tudors
#5 The Walking Dead
#6 Ludakris
#7 Pitbull
You get the picture. I love music. I love music. I love art. I love spoken word poetry. I love lyrics. All of it. I got a degree in theatre, people. Boy calls me his own personal IMDB. I know a movie or performance is rocking my world if I suddenly pick up on a strong scent. I'm serious. I figured out that my senses are trying to absorb every element of the experience (which translates to strongly smelling someone's perfume or cologne). I'm an artist and always have been. If you see me on my commute engaging in my own dashboard karaoke, please know that I understand exactly the kind of fool I'm acting like. But at what point am I unholy?We all know when we are humble submitted to Christ. If there is one
thing that is clear in Leviticus, it's that Christ negated the duties of
the Levites as the priestly line.
Jesus & God
I found such a clearer picture of who God is in Leviticus. He is: a disciplinarian, terrible, bone crushing, raging, and makes me terrified in everything I consume or think. In these attributes He displays a love for his people, a jealousy for their hearts, and an unfailing desire to refine their hearts. We can all agree that Isreal didn't respond that well. Christ not only replaces the act of sacrifice to cover our sinds, but scripture says that he TAKES AWAY sin. Lightbulb! However, there are a few examples of those who were Holy. Phineas was my favorite...Numbers 25 says
"
10 The Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
How zealous am I towards those unholy things in my life. Cursing because saying the b-word makes someone laugh? But Walking Dead is soooooo good! What is Scott Dyssick going to do this week-good guy or bad boy? A sarcastic tone or raising my voice is the only way to get their attention during that math lesson. I can clearly see the planks in my eye, but I have specks too. I really would love to hear your answers to this question...
What are your boundaries in the movies, books, and music you watch and listen too? Do you have rules in your household? What are they?
Just Do it.
I really have no intention of reading the Bible in a year for nothing. I LOVE talking about it! I'm hungry to keep the conversation going. Just a week or so ago at a baby shower, I had a thrilling converation about struggling with the patriarichal nature of the law and women's rights in Isreal. At a BABY SHOWER! Yesterday while horseback riding and seeing my friends goats, she laughed at my joke about how her husky must be a Levite because he had gotten to one of her goats. Seriously? Last week I had a HUGE opportunity to pull off my "that Nice girl" Lacy mask and reveal myself as Miriam (which BTW in my head looks something like turning into the hulk and Ursula, the sea witch all at the same time). I didn't. My mind might just be renewing! Here are some of the conscious decisions I'm making to keep trying at Holiness...
#1 I REALLY want to see silver linings playbook but choose not to because I just know the content will not be God glorifying
#2 I don't watch E! and deleted the Facebook App. Next week will be a technology fast for me (ipad surfinf, facebook, and HGTV)
#3 I got rid of XM radio and am listening to KDUV and worship Mog playlist and audio bible on my commute. I have seen almost an immediate harvest of the fruits of the spirit, namely patience and joy.
#4 I'm counting calories and finding another half marathon or workout program to do because I have a serious sloth in my soul. It's more of a stewarding my body and not using food as medication.
#5 I'm watching what my fun money is going towards. I think God has a lot to say in the OT about economics. I had saved for a new pair of riding boots for a while and finally pulled the trigger, but spent my remaining fun money on new work shoes for Boy because he ran out of his fun money for the month. Shhh...they are in the mail ;)
#6 I've made a conscious effort to ban anger from my classroom. Last week I experimented in consistently staying positive no matter how my attitudes were justified. It is a different classroom, let me tell you. You have no idea how HUGE!
#7 I don't need to catch up on MadMan, Walking Dead, or Nashville, or New Girl. New girl hurts the worst. I'm actually a little angry I have to. I just have to ask myself, "What exactly entertains you Lacy? Great screenwriting? Zombies eating faces? Funny racial stereotypes? You just love Kimberly Williams Paisly and Connie Britton? You identify strongly with Betty Draper? Will Don ever stop stepping out?" I will let you fill in the blank on what else I could constructively spend my time on...
"Be holy. for I am Holy"
I promise I'm almost done. There is a reason it took me a while to finish processing Leviticus. This chapter in Hebrews 10 brought it home for me and motivated these drastic decisions listed above and you just HAVE to read it.
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise,
would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would
have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty
for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offering you were not pleased.7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll- I have come to do your will, my God.’”8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.I will put my laws in their hearts,and I will write them on their minds.”17 Then he adds:“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison
and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you
knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
38 And,“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Ouch. How much more severely? Don't let fear of the discipline resulting motivate the changes you may make, but let hope and gratitude for Christ's sacrifice motivate your heart and hands.
Lacy B!
Monday, February 11, 2013