Holy Men

"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs." -Exodus 22.31

Israel is commanded not to eat meat that has been torn to pieces in the field. They were not to salvage what was left from a lion killing and make stew from it. If an animal had been taken by thieves and butchered, they were not to take the edible parts of what was left and feed their families. Instead they were to throw it to the dogs. It was unfit for human consumption, and so they were to discard it and have nothing to do with it.

Most people who raise animals for food that would not try to salvage and sell/eat the remains of an animal that was killed. The exception would be the guys on the show "Mountain Men" or others like them, who never throw anything away. But most people wouldn't think twice about discarding the remains of a killed and picked over carrcus. Instead I think we can draw a different, and more relevant, message from this verse.

We are still to be holy men to God, and so we are not to consume anything that has been torn to pieces; we are to throw it to the dogs.

Pornography is sex and beauty that has been torn to pieces. It is something God had made good, that sin took and twisted. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Gossip is truth and honor that has been torn to pieces. It takes the truth about someone and smashes it by spreading lies about someone. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Greed is generosity and faith that has been torn to pieces. It lives selfishly, hoarding for itself, father than reaching out to help those in need. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

Addiction is self-control torn to pieces. It takes something that may not be bad in and of itself, and makes it the thing we cannot live without. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it.

... is something else torn to pieces. It takes ... that God had had made good, but sin has twisted it and uses it to ensnare us and pull our focus away from God. We are to throw it to the dogs and have nothing to do with it. Fill in the blanks.

Men, God calls us to be holy to Him, and if we would be holy there are things we must give up and avoid. These things draw us away from God, and cause us to indulge in things that destroy us. Every single one of them is something that God made good, but sin has taken it and twisted it in an effort to pull us away from God.

Let us be strong and resist the temptations that battle for our holiness. Let us throw the flesh of what was once good, but is now torn to pieces by sin, and throw it to the dogs. Let us be holy men of God.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

God First

"You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me." -Exodus 22.29-30

In the various laws that God gives to His people this one commands them to faith. God says that they are not to delay in presenting the offering of the harvest to Him. The first born son is to be dedicated to God, and the first born of the sheep and oxen are to be offered to Him as well. God's portion is to come first, not last and from the leftovers. God is to be given the best that we have to offer, and we trust in Him that what is left will be enough.

Most of us live in a world where we don't grow our own produce, (though I hope one day in the not too distant future to not be counted with that group) or raise our own meat animals. But we all live in a world where we need some kind of income. Men work, they earn money to provide for their families and save for retirement. But we are to write the first check to God.

Men, when do you pay your tithe? (Do you even give one?) Do you give to God first, trusting that what is left will cover the electric bill and pay for groceries? Or do you take care of your needs first, and if there happens to be something leftover, you might think about giving part of it to God?

God desires for, and commands, us to live lives of faith and trust in Him. When we offer the first portion to God we are saying that we trust Him. We are acknowledging His provision of what we have already earned, and declaring that we know God will provide all that we need if what is left is not enough. Men of God live in faith. They trust Him fully, and don't regret giving to God first.

Let us live lives of trust, knowing God will take care of us. Let us give to Him first, and watch as He honors our faithfulness.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Don't Curse, Pray

"You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people." -Exodus 22.28

I really didn't want to write on this verse, but as I started to write on the next one I knew that I couldn't overlook this. I'll be honest, I'm not very fond of the current President, and I'll leave it at that. But regardless of my personal feelings he is the President of the United States and has been given authority by God to rule, and God has given instructions about how to treat the leaders.

We are not to cure a ruler of our people. We are not to wish harm or misfortune upon him. We are not to curse his name. This is not to say we cannot state our opinion of their performance, especially with an elected official, after all, leaders are in power to better the lives of those they lead, and if they aren't doing that something needs to change. But when I voice my opinion, it must be done with the respect that God's appointed leader deserves.

Men, is this something you struggle with? Maybe it isn't the President, maybe it's your boss. Maybe your pastor. Maybe it's a senior member of your family. Here in Exodus 22 we are told not to curse our rulers, and 1 Timothy 2.1-4 states, "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Let us not grumble and complain, instead let us pray. Let us pray that our leaders will be Men of God. Men who seek His guidance and wisdom as they lead. Let us pray that they remember the reason for their leadership, and that they have the courage to do what is right. Let us pray for them, lifting them to God, not cursing them and wishing for their demise, if they are bad leaders that will happen on its own.

Let us lift our leaders to God in prayer

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Strangers, Widows, and Orphans

"You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless." -Exodus 22.21-24

This chapter of Exodus continues with instructions God has given His people. There are laws about property, and who is responsible for for paying back what and when, and then it moves into what are called sundry (various or diverse) laws. All of them could be written on, but I am writing these based on what stands out to me. These verses talk about not afflicting, or taking advantage of, those who cannot stand up for themselves.

God says that they people shall not wrong a stranger among them, they shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If they do, God will hear their cries and His anger will be kindles and He will kill them with the sword making their wives widows and children orphans. It's easy to take advantage of a stranger, and it's easier still to take advantage of widows and orphans, but God specifically warns not to do it.

Men, let us stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. When there are strangers, new people in the workplace, at church, or in the neighborhood, reach out to them. Be friendly and helpful. Remember, you are being a representative of God to them, even if you aren't meaning to be. First impressions speak loudly and are lasting, so make them good.

Stand up for the widow and the orphan. Do what you can to help them. Help the old lady who lives across the street. Mow her lawn, shovel the driveway in the winter. Keep an eye out for her. Be there for the fatherless. We have so many children that need a daddy today. You don't have to adopt to be there for them.

Are you willing to invest the time and energy, or do you want to blow it off and leave it for someone else? What would you want done for you when you move to a new situation? What do you want for your wife when you're gone, or your children if something happens to you?

Invest in others as you would want others to invest in you and your family. Be the friend and neighbor that you want to have. Not doing this invites God's anger, and that's something we don't want to see. What we do for others will be done for us, live how you want to be treated.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor