Blue Hair, Tattoos, and Lip Earrings

O. T. #298  "Blue Hair, Tattoos, and Lip Earrings"
May 29, 2014
Leviticus 26-Part 2
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. Leviticus 26:44

LET IT GLOW

Why do we think everyone should be like us? Why is our inner circle of friends similar to us? Why do we sit in judgment of those who have blue hair, tattoos, lip earrings? Sure those things seem to be a sign of  rebellion, rejecting God's standards. Maybe that is their way of getting attention when they need to feel loved. Aren't we all made in the image of God? Doesn't He look upon the heart, our inside, not the outside appearance? Where is the love? Can we love a person in spite of their quirks? Can we get beyond all that crazy outside stuff and look on the inside? Sure, they are different. Do we have limitations set? If a person does not reach our expectations, do we turn away, not loving them? Why?
I know I am guilty, friends. How do I overcome this judgmental attitude? Love as Jesus loved. Didn't He love the lepers? How about the woman caught in adultery? How about the sick? Those who failed Him? Those who turned away when He was on the cross?
God loves us with an everlasting love. Sure, He has standards set for us, but when we don't follow them, does He turn away from us? Does God cast us away? Continue for answers.

Previously we read what would happen if the Israelites would harken unto God's Word and if they disobeyed, walking contrary to His instructions.
There is another option to the if -what would happen if they confessed their iniquity.
Iniquities are sins, fault, perversities, moral evil. (Strong's Concordance)

What does the rest of the chapter say God will do if Israel will repent, humbly turning back to Him (verse 40)?

• God will remember His covenant with their fathers-Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and the land.  (verse 42)
• He will not cast them away. (verse 44) Cast meant to spurn, to disappear, despise, refuse, reject.
• God would not abhor them. (verse 44) Abhor means to reject, to detest, fail.
• He would not  utterly destroy them. (verse 44)
• God says He would not break His covenant with them. (verse 44)

Sounds like a good option to me. Such promises.
Do we cast away or abhor people? Do we reject people because they are different from us?


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say:

The Sinai covenant was a covenant of law, do this or else. But the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) was completely of grace and can never be abrogated by God or terminated by the wicked conduct of His people. In God's providence, Israel will yet turn to the Lord when brought low by the Antichrist during the Tribulation period in the future. God will intervene at the Battle of Armageddon and spare His people Israel, the Jews, and establish the long awaited kingdom that Christ promised. See Matthew 19:28; 26:29; Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6-7; and Revelation 20:1-6.

Have you left God's will for your life? He is waiting for you to turn to Him and repent. He won't reject us nor caste us away. He loves us.

LET IT GO

Turn to God.

Ask forgiveness for my sins.

Love others with the love of Christ.