​Day 60 – March 1, 2021

​Day 60 – March 1, 2021
Scriptures: Leviticus 24-25, 1 John 4
 
“Those who love God, must also love one another.” 1 John 4:21
 
I love Leviticus 25 and the description of the Jubilee. I recently preached on a Sabbath year, from the text Deuteronomy 15. Jubilee is the Sabbath year on steroids. In my various studies of the Jubilee, there is no evidence of the Israelites ever really obeying long enough to actually fulfill this law. They never quite figure it out.
 
It is up to us, who have the love of God living in us, to carry out this decree. Only, I don’t know how far we would get telling the banks to restore property to their rightful owners! They would likely laugh us out of the building. 
 
But what is set forth in Leviticus 24-25 is an important thing that I believe 1 John 4 exemplifies. The love of God and the love of others. In Lev. 24, we read about, “eye for eye and tooth for tooth.” Again, we are tempted to think this is a harsh treatment of issues. There should be forgiveness! And I agree.
 
“Eye for Eye” in its context, would have been a radically graceful response to the “enemy.” It created safeguards from heavy-handed and vengeful retributions. It would have been a “life for an eye,” but in God’s great wisdom for his people, “eye for eye” becomes in its way, grace giving.
 
All of this is laying a groundwork for a Teacher one day to come and teach his followers to “turn the other cheek.” 
 
Forgiveness and mercy will come in a way they never would expect. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
 
Let us go and love one another!
 
Jordan