What steps can we take to maintain spiritual cleanliness in our lives today? Leviticus 15:20 in Context “Anything on which she lies or sits during her menstrual impurity will be unclean.” (Leviticus 15:20) The Call to Spiritual Cleanliness Today • Old-covenant regulations made uncleanness unmistakable; every object touched by an impure person became defiled. • Under the new covenant, the same holy God calls us to guard our lives just as carefully: “Let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1) Step 1: Recognize the Source of Cleanliness—Christ’s Blood • Levitical washings pointed forward to the “once for all” cleansing found in Jesus (Hebrews 10:22). • “If we walk in the light… the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) • Daily gratitude for the cross keeps us from slipping into self-righteousness. Step 2: Regular Self-Examination and Confession • Sin defiles quickly; honesty restores quickly. • Psalm 139:23-24—invite God to search and uncover hidden stains. • 1 John 1:9—confess, and He “is faithful and just to forgive… and to cleanse.” Step 3: Separate from Defilement • In Leviticus 15, anything that contacted impurity had to be washed or destroyed. • Practical applications: – Choose media, conversations, and relationships that foster purity (Philippians 4:8). – “Come out from among them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) Step 4: Renew Your Mind with the Word • Ephesians 5:26—Christ sanctifies the church “with the washing of water by the word.” • Make Scripture intake as regular as bathing: – Read, meditate, memorize. – Let truth expose lingering filth and replace it with righteousness (Romans 12:2). Step 5: Cultivate Holy Habits • Cleanliness is maintained, not achieved once. • Daily rhythms that protect purity: – Morning surrender (Romans 6:13). – Planned times of prayer (Daniel 6:10). – Fasting or solitude when cravings gain ground (Matthew 6:17-18). • “Discipline yourself for godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7) Step 6: Engage in Accountable Fellowship • In Leviticus, impurity was a community concern; ignoring it endangered others. • Hebrews 10:24-25—meet together to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” • Practical ideas: – Honest check-ins with trusted believers. – Small-group study that confronts sin lovingly (Galatians 6:1). Step 7: Walk in Continuous Dependence on the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • Ask moment by moment for His power to resist contamination and to bear fruit that proves inner cleanliness. A Clean Heart for a Holy God The objects mentioned in Leviticus 15:20 could not cleanse themselves; they needed outside washing. We, too, rely completely on the finished work of Christ, the ongoing work of the Spirit, and obedient cooperation with God’s Word. Guard the gateways, stay quick to confess, and let His holiness shine through a life kept spiritually clean. |
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