It Comes Down to Love

      Leviticus is a hard book to read.  I'm reading through the Bible and just finished reading the book of Leviticus.  It is called the handbook for the priests and guide to holy living.  There are instructions from diet to personal hygiene to worship to holy living.  I found many chapters to be brutal and bloody with the instructions for the sacrifices.  Then, we are to help our neighbors, widows, children, poor, and strangers traveling through our land.  Land owners are instructed to not harvest all their crops but leave the grain or produce at the corners unharvested.  After all these instructions, chapter nineteen is about daily living showing love.  In the end, a holy life comes down to love.

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."  Lev. 19:18

"And if a stranger sojourn with you in your land, you shall not vex him.  But the stranger that dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." Lev. 19:33-34

"And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not make clean riddance of the corners of the field when you reap, neither shall you gather any gleaning of your harvest: you shall leave them unto the poor, and the the stranger: I am the Lord your God." Lev. 23:22

     As I finish reading Leviticus, it is clear that without love it is impossible to live a holy and harmonious life.  If we love our neighbors and strangers, disagreements and differences can be accepted.  We don't have to agree, but we should never judge and show disrespect.  There should be no posts on social media filled with hateful speech.  We should not judge one another because of political party.  I'm not saying to be silent and agree when you disagree.  I'm saying don't be hateful and disrespectful.  Before you react, step back and look at the person and show love and respect.  Instead of harshly criticizing someone for their beliefs, be prepared to kindly share why you can't agree.  If they get hostile, walk away or just don't post anything.  Or, tell them that you love them despite your differences.  

     Despite our differences, we should never set out to harm one another.  If we love even the stranger, we will 'not therefore oppress one another.' (Lev. 25:17)   In verses thirty-five through forty-three of chapter twenty-five, we are told to help the poor.  We help by giving them a place to live and food to eat.  We help by leading them towards independence to be able to support themselves.  We help them not from duty but with love.  

     It comes down to love.  What is love?  This love is to show respect and care expecting nothing back in return. God's love is sharing the burdens of others in order to lift them up.  Love is not what you can get out of it, but what you can give to bring peace and harmony.  God's love is not oppressing anyone or looking down on anyone.  God's love is wanting others to walk with you in the spirit of God to experience the peace and love that we can only receive when we place our faith in God.  This is the love each soul hungers to have.  


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