Don't


Lev 19:2  "Speak to the congregation of Israel. Tell them: Be holy because I, 

	GOD, your God, am holy. 


	Whenever there is an opportunity to become part of an established company, 

there is usually an employee handbook that is provided. Reading this book and 

understanding what is expected is a requirement before employment can continue. 

There is an outlining of what might be expected from the employee, what can and 

cannot be done, and there is also a description of what the employer will 

provide as compensation for complying with these requirements. While some of the 

rules of conduct may be somewhat stringent and demand a great deal of 

adjustment, a decision to continue as an employee is a decision to comply with 

these guidelines. If service to this particular company means enough, there will 

be no problem with willingly complying with all the wishes of the employer. A 

decision for the employer, then, is a decision to follow what is specified in 

the handbook. 


	Once the job actually begins, there is an opportunity to really find out 

how much this relationship with the employer means. While there may be no 

problem with signing the agreement after the initial reading of the rules, as 

correction of behavior begins to take place, it may seem that there is a "don't" 

waiting for every action, for every movement. "We don't do it that way." "You 

didn't do that the way we need it done." "There is another way we'd like for you 

to do that." It may begin to seem that there is nothing that is positive, that 

there's just no way that a day can go by without running into a "don't". If 

there is no reinforcement of relationship with the boss, if there is no reason 

to feel support or encouragement, then there may eventually be a great loss of 

motivation to perform the job's duties or continue with this employment at all. 

Paranoid of just running into another "don't", timidity or mediocrity may 

replace a once inspired vision of the position. 


	This 19th chapter of Leviticus appears to be a listing of these "don'ts". 

Don't do this, don't do that to the point of touching on every little detail of 

life. How could you even begin to do any of these things perfectly and without 

need of correction? As soon as you think you might be getting a handle on one 

area, sure enough, there's another "don't" to be dealt with. There were so many 

of these things that were required in order to live holy before God that failure 

must have seemed eminent. After a while the motivation to try must have given 

way to following whatever the flesh dictated at the moment. The only thing that 

might keep them on the path of these don'ts was the relationship they had with 

the One who came up with the guidelines. Only those who found Him to be more 

than a distant entity, waiting to punish them for the smallest thing, would be 

able to continue in the way of holiness. Even though there were material rewards 

promised and a life of abundance ensured, this payment alone would not be able 

to hold them to the discipline of righteousness. At some point the enticements 

of the world would seem to provide more pleasure with less effort and restraint. 

Though each "don't" was intended for good and a better life, until it was 

embraced as a part of relationship with the Father, it would just be a stumbling 

block, making for a hopeless and miserable life. Like David, the meditation on 

these rules and complying with them would have to represent a way of 

experiencing the presence of the Father and worshiping Him with each moment. 

Before complying with them could be possible, they had to be seen as an 

enhancement of relationship.  


Mat 22:37  Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer 

	and intelligence.' 

Mat 22:38  This is the most important, the first on any list. 

Mat 22:39  But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as 

	you love yourself.' 

Mat 22:40  These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets 

	hangs from them." 


	I'm so glad for the way of righteousness and holiness that is provided for 

us in Christ. There is freedom from the bondage of sin and an entrance to a new 

life of abundance in Him that has many rewards, with the greatest being His very 

presence. In order to live this life and serve this Employer, though, there will 

be an endless list of rules and guidelines with which we must comply. For every 

moment of every day there is a way of conducting ourselves that will meet His 

requirements and His desires. Living up to this way can become this overwhelming 

and hopeless quest that is sure to be met with failure. What's so incredible 

about these things Jesus spoke in Matthew, though, is that we don't have to be 

consumed with paranoia about messing up and not getting all the "don'ts" right. 

The very heart of everything that is stated in our employee handbook is 

contained in the simple loving of the One who wrote it and all those for whom He 

wrote it. As relationship with Him becomes the ever-growing passion of our 

heart, compliance with any direction He gives becomes a willing sacrifice of 

praise and worship, further enhancing our experience in Him. There is no need to 

even notice any other enticement or direction as everything we need is found in 

this incredible God of fulfillment. Frustration with failure can be given up for 

the gratification of His loving presence that always removes condemnation and 

lifts to a higher way of victory and success. 


	For this day there is a way of choosing what is right and what is holy. 

I'll not fret about my ability to make each choice correctly and a failure will 

not demoralize and discourage. With my eyes set on the Object of my passion, I 

will trust Him to guide my steps and keep me in the way that pleases Him. I will 

lose any frustration with the don'ts as they instead become a natural expression 

of my love for Him and His creation. As my heart is set on Him, out of it will 

flow the issues of life. 



7/22/04