Happy Wednesday. It is February 7, 2024. Reading Leviticus may seem awfully messy. However, if you look for the overriding principles, you can extract values and virtues that God wanted to build into His people. I have an invitation for you today to be a Virtue Setter. The qualities for Virtue Setters won’t come standard. Learning them will cost you something, but the option of NOT learning them may cost you everything! Read on…
Today's Reading:
Leviticus 4,5,6; Acts 14
Scripture
"The Lord said to Moses: 'If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by deceiving, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely — when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found…'” (Leviticus 6:1-3)
Observation
These commands might seem minuscule and redundant, but the underlying principle was cultivating an honest conscience that would chaperone their actions and virtue that would guide their intentions. These divine values won’t come as a plug-and-play feature; they are add-ons. They must be “purchased,” but the benefits far outweigh the cost.
These virtues are transferable to the next generation and to everyone you associate with. They can transform a church, renew a family, or strengthen a marriage. Their influence is far greater and lasts longer than any high-cost Super Bowl ad (7 million dollars for a 30-second ad that you’ll forget by next week).
Application
Our world needs people who will be "virtue-setters"—individuals who will set the tone, establish the culture, and initiate the domino effect of virtuous lives. However, these men and women must be willing to live morally upright despite those who would sneer or take advantage of their good faith. Their goodness or kindness may never be repaid. It will require deep conviction and tested stamina to establish a culture of virtue.
We must remember that Jesus was never given a trophy for His virtue. He loved, forgave, refused jealousy and envy, and would not retaliate. He went first in serving and caring for even His enemies. He was taken advantage of and repudiated, yet He never gave up. It can still happen today. "Archaic," "Brown-noser," and "Old-Fashioned" are among the labels attached to Virtue Setters, but when the dust settles (and it will), mark my words—these will be the enduring warriors who will change our world and the next generation. And in the end, they will be the ones who hear, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."
Prayer
Father, please grant me the strength and stamina to be a Virtue Setter. In our “business world,” where money and mammon drive everything, please raise up a cadre of men and women who, like Jesus, will be Virtue Setters.
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