The life that belongs to God
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ ~ Leviticus 17:11
Have you ever wondered why certain boundaries in your life matter to God so deeply? Sometimes His instructions feel restrictive at first, yet underneath them is a purpose that protects you, strengthens you, and keeps your heart close to His. Leviticus 17 is a chapter where God teaches Israel the sacredness of life and the seriousness of worship. Even though the details are ancient, the message still speaks clearly today. God cares about how you live, who you worship, and what you allow to influence your heart.
Here are three truths found in Leviticus 17 and how you can walk in them today
- Honor God with the life He has given you
In this chapter, God teaches Israel that life is in the blood and should never be treated casually. In today’s world, you honor God by recognizing that your life is not random. It is sacred and set apart for His purpose.
Start your day by dedicating your time, energy, conversations, and decisions to God. You can pray, “God, use my life today for Your purpose.” This simple moment helps you walk through your day with purpose and care.
- Keep your worship centered on God alone
God warned His people not to offer sacrifices anywhere they pleased. He called them to bring everything to Him alone. In our world, distractions pull your attention in many directions. It becomes easy to give your heart to things that do not deserve it.
Choose one moment in your day when you feel overwhelmed or scattered and pause to invite God into it. Say, “Father, You are the center of my life. Help me to stay focused on You.” This keeps your heart grounded in His presence.
- Stay away from influences that pull you from God
God told the people not to follow the practices of the surrounding nations because those practices would turn them away from Him. Even now, influences that weaken your faith try to creep in through conversations, entertainment, relationships, or habits.
Identify one influence in your life that drains your spiritual strength. Ask God to help you remove it or replace it with something that builds you up. This small shift can bring peace and clarity to your day.
There have been times in my own life when I allowed too many distractions to crowd my mind. I was trying to do everything on my own, yet my heart started drifting into worry and frustration. It was only when I recognized that God was calling me to draw close again that I got His peace back in my heart and in my life. As soon as I turned my attention back to Him, the things that once overwhelmed me became manageable because His presence filled the spaces where pressure once lived.
Today I want to encourage you to honor the life God has given you, keep your focus centered on Him, and guard your heart from anything that weakens your faith. God is inviting you to walk closely with Him, and as you draw near, His strength, peace, and purpose will fill every part of your day. He is faithful to guide you, sustain you, and bless the life that belongs to Him.
Today’s scripture reading: Leviticus 17
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying:
3 “Whatever man of the house of Israel who kills an ox or lamb or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,
4 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting to offer an offering to the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord, the guilt of bloodshed shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people,
5 to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices which they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to the priest, and offer them as peace offerings to the Lord.
6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting and burn the fat for a sweet aroma to the Lord.
7 They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.” ’
8 “Also you shall say to them: ‘Whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 and does not bring it to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, to offer it to the Lord, that man shall be cut off from among his people.
10 ‘And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’
13 “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust;
14 for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore, I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
15 “And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean.
16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt.”
Journal:
- What is one area of my life today that I need to dedicate more intentionally to God?
- What distractions have been pulling my attention away from His presence?
- What is one influence I can remove or change so I can stay spiritually strong?
The Daily Dose 