The Daily Word: Sunday, February 23rd, 2020
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house. – Lev. 14:41-42
God gave a warning to Moses. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, some of their houses would be infected. There would be, “…some plague in the house” (Lev. 14:35). Remember back then that houses were built out of unfinished stone and mortar. If anything was “off” in the house, the owner was instructed to, “…cause the house to be scraped inside, all around” (v. 41). They would replace the stones that were unclean, and re-plaster the entire house.
Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it? But God was sending His people a message: the most important part of the house is a healthy foundation. This speaks to your spiritual life. If something doesn’t feel right on the surface, there is probably a problem that needs to be addressed underneath. If something feels “off” in your relationship with God, or with others (!!), it is time to do some scraping. Present yourself to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to replace any stone (i.e. any part of your spiritual foundation) that is unclean. And then allow the Holy Spirit to plaster over the entire house.
A house without a healthy foundation cannot stand. Your spiritual health is of the utmost importance! Any bitterness, envy, or selfishness has to go. Ask God to scrape it out! And He will rebuild something in you that is healthy and whole.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for my clean foundation! I’m so grateful for Your willingness and commitment to making me healthy and whole. I’m asking You to take away any part of my spiritual formation that is unstable. Replace it with Your presence and Your love, in Jesus’ name!
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.
See commentary from this day in 2019.
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.