I like to start out the day reading what is called on the internet the “verse of the day.” Usually, I go to the

homonymous website, but occasionally, usually because it seemed repetitive from the previous days, I will seek

alternative ones. And last Tuesday that happened, and I ended up in Leviticus 19. If you want to read some interesting old laws, read Leviticus 19! Occasionally in the news you read about some archaic State law that some legislator is trying to change. This is a list from, I don’t know, 3500 years ago? We don’t need to change them, but they are old!

Much of Leviticus 19 sounds like an amplification of the Ten Commandments. Verse 14, for example, reads: ”Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.” That is a logical

sequitur to loving your neighbor, but I think even today we disobey that law as a society. As I read law after law, a lot made sense there in Moses’ words.

But some laws are not as immediately evident as others. There is a triad in verse 19 for instance. The triad says:

“Do not mate different kinds of animals.

“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.

“Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”

Now, you could respond to that by saying “what, do we kill all the mules? Can I clear my closet of polyester on religious grounds?” And I would smile at that, granted. What’s wrong with synthetics anyway?

Personally, I think not mating different animals was a way of God saying, “leave the animals alone.” A good word. And not mixing two kinds of seeds makes for weird harvesting. And weaving two kinds of materials? Simplicity and elegance are best served by a single material. That’s just my opinion.

But taken as a triad, I think it’s a call to focus on “the main thing.” The verse actually starts with the words “Keep my decrees.” I think God wants us to focus on Him and stay focused there. Me? I weave faith and fear together, I weave trust in the Lord with self‑reliance, I weave worship with distraction, and devotion with compromise. I weave God’s will, what I know His word says, with my will and selfish desires. I could go on.

Jesus put it more eloquently: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other,

or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24).

Jesus’ call to make sure we have one master serves as an invitation to live a focused life, a “purpose driven life” as Rick Warren put it years ago. The hymn’s suggestion that we “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face” is so that “the things of earth will grow strangely dim.” Focus helps clarity. All the fusion and blending of this world cannot match the simple goodness of following Jesus. We need not mix anything else in.

Wearing wool socks today,

Craig

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3,4