365 Days with God - Day 113: A Better Place

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 113, April 12, 2014

Readings: Psalm 113, Leviticus 19, Isaiah 24, Galatians 4

The day has come. I know, you readers (all 3 of you, you know who you are) have been wondering: When is he going to look at Leviticus? We know he's reading it! We're eager for some good, old-fashioned...no, wait. Nobody is saying that. But here goes.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to it's edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.
"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
"You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:9-18)

When Jesus says "Love your neighbor as yourself," Leviticus 19 has a few ideas about how to do that - many of which are merely the 10 commandments, expanded upon. But it all centers around building a community based on trust and a familial love. There's no mention of doing anything for your own benefit - it's all about serving others.

How doe these apply in your life?