Various Laws from Leviticus chapter 19

1. Respect mother and father.
2. No idol worship.
3. Make a proper sacrifice.
4. Care for the poor.
5. Do not steal, lie or decieve.
6. Do not mistreat you laborers.
7. Do not mistreat the handicapped.
8. Do not pervert justice.
9. Do not slander.
10. Don't do anything that would endanger another person life.
11. Do not hate or take revenge.
12. Do not practice divination or sorcery.
13. Do not cut your bodies for the dead.
14. Do not put tattoo marks on your body in worship of other gods.

The presence of the Lord.

Exodus 33:14-16 - "Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Do you desire the intimate and personal presence of the Lord in your life. It does not happen automatically or naturally. The first step is asking God for it. The second is developing it. The third step is remaining in it.

The result, it will distinguish us from other people.

Iron sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

As a believer in Christ, we are not able to grow, shut up in a room, praying and reading our Bible all day. We need friction, trials and the correction of others to mature.

Often, we look for people who are like minded. People who always agree with us and never challenge us. It is in our nature to seek the path of least resistance. These things are not necessarily bad, but often weakens us. Some of the strongest people are those who have gone through the toughest times, and came out victorious on the other side.

Many a believer in Christ do not attend church because there are certain things they do not want to hear. They do not want to be challenged in their faith or to grow. Also, many leave the church because someone in the church is rubbing them the wrong way, challenging their ideas and theology, or God forbid, don't agree with them.

On the flip side of the coin, their are those believers in Christ who insulate themselves from the non-believer or worldly person. They only mingle with the believer in Christ. (I Corinthians 5:9) We do need to be on our guard from worldliness and temptations. the Bible does tell us to watch and pray. (Matthew 26:41) The Bible teaches us that we are in this world, but not of this world. Those who isolate themselves from non-believers will weaken themselves as well, because there will be no friction in their life or be challenged in their faith. Yes, there must be balance and precautions taken to guard ourselves from sin.

The underlying idea here is that friction is not necessarily a bad thing at times. While constant friction is a bad thing. Even as iron sharpens iron, if you sharpen a knife all day, you will destroy it.

I rasied you up for a time such as this.

I like the following passage - Exodus 9:16 - "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Here, God is speaking to Pharaoh and his rebellion. He is saying that I raised you up to this mighty position and hardened your heart, that my mighty power may displayed in all the earth. Egypt was one of the super powers of the day. Therefore, God was going to humble Egypt and deliver His people through His mighty power. All the other nations would see it and hear about it, and be in awe of the God of Israel.

Here, God was using a wicked man and a bad situation to show His glory. Often when hard and difficult times come or times where there seems to be no hope. It is in these very situations that God chooses to display His power.

Also, God may be raising you up for a specific purpose that he may show His power, even as He raised up Joseph to save His people and later Moses to deliver them.