Reading
- Lev. 12:1-8; 14:1-32; 15:13-15, 28-30; 19:11-22, 1-10
Devotional
GOD gave the Israelites commands regarding what to do in the event that they became unclean. An Israelite could become unclean for a number of reasons, including bodily fluids, having a baby, being in contact with a dead body, or having a disease such as leprosy. For each situation GOD gave Moses steps for the Israelite to go through so that they could become clean again.
For us today, these examples of physical uncleanness are a figure (a shadow or type) of spiritual uncleanness which is caused by sin. Just as GOD wanted the Israelites to become physically cleansed from their uncleanness, He wants us to be spiritually cleansed as well.
Today the process of spiritual purification is accomplished because of the sacrifice of Jesus, on our behalf, upon the cross. While we are outside of Christ we are unclean because of our sins. When we are buried with Jesus in baptism our sins are forgiven and we are purified—that is, we are made clean. The apostle Paul wrote:
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
(Rom. 6:3-6 NKJV)
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
(Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)
GOD expects us to be pure, free from sin and clean. Jesus provides the means by which we can accomplish this.
