DCLM Daily Manna 26 January 2021 – Beyond Dietary Choices
Topic: Beyond Dietary Choices
Text: Leviticus 11:1-12 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Key Verse: Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.” – (Leviticus 11:3)
MESSAGE:
There has been a remarkable increase in health awareness. This, perhaps, is a response to the upsurge of many dreaded health conditions, which have been linked to lifestyle and diets. Experts in this area have recommended healthy dietary practice of eating fruits and vegetable as well as doing physical exercise. As a result, more and more people are becoming picky about what they eat.
For some reason, God wanted the Israelites to be similarly disposed about the animal foods they ate. As they moved from Egypt to the Promised Land, He, through Moses, gave them detailed guidelines that covered every aspect of their conduct, connections, culture and culinary practices. In the text, we see classes of land and sea animals they were to eat or not to eat.
Attempts have been made by some to give scientific explanations to these dietary laws. This school of thought holds that God gave the laws for health reasons. Therefore, it should be observed by everyone who cares to be healthy. It should be noted that the dietary laws were given to distinguish Israel from other nations and as a reminder of God’s holiness as well as their need for purity. In the New Testament, Christ made it clear that it is not what we eat that defiles us but the content of the heart (Mark 7:15). Christ Himself has fulfilled the demands of the law and provided grace for our salvation and holiness.
God is holy and demands that His worshippers be holy. In this era, the concept of clean and unclean state is not about dietary choices but the experience of transformation that results in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ whose blood cleanses from all sin. Have you been washed in this soul-cleansing blood?
Thought For The Day: Go beyond eating right to being right with your God.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
