Thursday July 19, 2007

Text for the Day -- Leviticus 19:1-4, 32-34
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The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the
people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD
your God am holy. You shall each revere your mother and father, and
you shall keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. Do not turn to
idols or make cast images for yourselves: I am the LORD your God. You
shall rise before the aged, and defer to the old; and you shall fear
your God: I am the LORD. When an alien resides with you in your land,
you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall
be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as
yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD
your God.

Devotional
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This chapter of Leviticus is a blend of the holiness code for Israel
in both the internal and external relationships and instructions for
their ritual life. They had a highly developed code of holiness to
maintain their identity as the people of God and to define their
relationships with others in love and justice. This is a part of our
heritage as well as Christians.

Prayer[/b
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Gracious God, help me see the wisdom in your teaching that can guide
my life. Amen