via TJC
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” ~ Leviticus 19:15
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.” ~Leviticus 19:33
The book of Leviticus details hundreds of laws for the nation of Israel. Namely, Leviticus provides guidelines for living with each other and dealing with neighboring nations (Matthew 22:35-40). The whole purpose is to understand righteousness and glorify God.
God created these laws just for the nation of Israel to set Israel apart from its neighbors; (though they were also to be taught to the foreigners living among them). These rules didn’t apply to the Philistines, the Amalekites, or Jebusites etc. Though in a twist of irony, over the years the Israel’s descendants would use these laws to make themselves appear better than the gentile nations around them.
I struggle with projecting my values, beliefs and traditions onto others. Especially when it comes to politics, ideology or faith. I’m guilty of judging people on a standard I’ve created for them, or judging them by the measure I hold for myself, even as I fall short of it. That is not the gospel. This is me wrapping the Gospel in my perversion of freedom and judgment. It is self-righteous and keeps me from valuing them for who they are. That’s not warrior strength. It’s selfish and cowardly. It’s on Kingdom Men to demonstrate the Good News of Jesus’ fulfillment of the Levitical law to those who are lost or in open rebellion. I am to teach, train, correct and rebuke in the spirit of righteousness (2 Tim 3:16) not in the spirit of my self-righteousness or moral “christian” lenses.
Daily Battle Order:
Kingdom Men strive to defeat projection. We are warriors of love, sacrifice and action.
Live, think and act like the Law and its fulfillment by Jesus set us apart to draw our neighbors to Him. Especially those who’s ideologies, views and behaviors are different (and seen as wrong). Jesus said “He did not not come to condemn the world”, don’t make it your job to use the Good News to condemn the world either. We are Kingdom Men!
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