March 4 Dining Separately

Leviticus 11:47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.

The law was given to help the Israelites recognize they could not be righteous on their own, they needed a Redemptor, at least redemption from the penalty of sin. Smith says, "...they were a constant reminder to Israel of their need to be separate from both pagans and from sin."

So what do we do as Twenty-first century Christians with this? Scripture tells us in Matt. 5:15 and Luke 11:33 that we are not to hide our light under a bushel. The implication is that our testimony or faith should be visible to the lost...so how separate does that mean we are to be?

In II Cor. 6: 17, we find these words speaking to the issue: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you." Now how does that help us? It seems as though we are to be close enough to the world that they can see our light, our difference, and far enough away from the world that we are not seen as fellowshipping with or partaking in ungodliness.

Smith puts it this way, "If we truly want to be seen as separate, it will come in our conversations and values." Think of it this way: even when we are surrounded by unbelievers, they should be more influenced toward Christ by our differences than we are influenced toward evil by them.

I wonder how much of the problem today is that we have ceased to think in those terms: clean and unclean. And since we find it so difficult to label sin as sin and it is much easier to call it a mistake, we see no reason to separate from it. Just a thought!!!!