For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Lev. 14
Receiving that clean bill of health after having leprosy was no simple task! The highly detailed process required eight days and a list of specific objects and actions. As usual, I wish I knew if all those specifics hold any special meaning or if God gave them simply as a test of obedience. Considering that leprosy is analogous to sin, though, I can see two general correlations, even with my lack of understanding. The first is that the day Christ removes our sin is just the beginning of an extended process through which He refines us and makes us truly clean. The second is that obedience is at the heart of that process. Not that our obedience brings about His forgiveness, because the healing came first. But, rather, that His forgiveness results in our obedience.
Ps. 17
“Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.” (Ps. 17:1). The thought I had when I read that is that the only just cause and the only lips never given to deceit are those of Jesus, and His prayer was for me. When Jesus prayed for His disciples, He prayed, “for those also who believe in Me through their word” (Jn. 17:20). That’s every one of us who claim Christ as Savior and Lord. We are His just cause and His prayer and we can be certain that God not only hears but will also answer and keep us from the evil one.
Prov. 28
How often in life do we hear, “Follow your heart!”? That advice is straight from the devil himself. The Proverbs tell us the opposite. “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Pr. 28:26a). Our heart is our flesh; the essence of our humanity. It is deceitful and bent toward destruction. Only a fool, who desires his own death, would follow it. And yet that is our natural tendency. This Proverb goes on to say, “but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” (Pr. 28:26b). Note the passive voice of this truth. Neither wisdom nor deliverance comes from us. Rather, we walk wisely when we surrender our heart to Christ and obediently follow Him.