DEFILEMENT AND DEFECTS. Leviticus 22 Christians need to understand the relationship between the law and grace. Focusing solely on the law without grace leads to a rule-based way of living where we may be good and decent, but our hearts can become hardened. Conversely, if we focus only on grace, we might be tempted to do what is right in our own eyes because we believe we can live without the guidance the law provides. Simply being born again doesn’t mean we are automatically wise.
Balance in the Christian life can be maintained by reading and paying attention to the entire counsel of God given in the written word. That is why we have the demands and blessings of both the Old and New Testaments. When we study and apply the principles of Scripture and the specific statements that apply to us personally, we become the kind of people who can offer spiritual sacrifices and worship the Father in spirit and truth.
Those who are children of God and who can serve and worship Him need to recognize the importance of everything they do. They must always remember that they are consecrated to God and are set apart from the world system for a purpose. We are to be separated unto the Lord because He is holy and separated from the sinful ways of fallen mankind. We must often be reminded that we are to "be holy, for I (God) am holy."
In serving God, such a holy occupation requires and demonstrates purity that accompanies anything or anyone representing God. A priest cannot serve if he has some sickness within him. He must be pure inwardly. It is possible to defile ourselves and, through our own carelessness, defile others. Sometimes, defilement occurs to the priest because of outward contact with unclean people or objects, and the result is that he becomes unclean. There can even be moral defilement that arises from a defiled mind, where thoughts have not been brought under control "to the obedience of Christ."
God expects moral perfection from those who offer acceptable sacrifices. A person must be born again into God's family to offer spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices are to be without blemish, meaning they are only visible to God, who has provided what we need. In our own efforts, we cannot create or offer anything perfect. We give God our best, which comes from what He provides us. Our Advocate with the Father makes any prayer, praise, or sacrifice of thanksgiving acceptable through His own Person.
No blemish, no defects, nothing that would show any sign of sin can be offered. Only what is perfect will do, and our Lord Jesus Christ has provided that in Himself. When we worship as an assembly of believers and priests, we present our Lord Jesus Christ to God as our completely perfect sacrifice. He is “holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.”
We are wise when we heed the warnings to avoid unholy contact with those things or people that demean the Lord and His Word. It is very easy for a person to be wrongly influenced by a teacher or professor who uses smooth words to challenge the faith in God a young believer has. Words can quickly defile the mind and may never leave one, leaving doubts and unanswered questions that hinder or even stop our service to God. Similarly, unholy alliances in marriage, business, religious, and political activities have the power to stop effective service to God. We are plainly told to "come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord." There are good reasons for that separation. Usually, unholy contact that leads to unholy alliances will go further, resulting in unholy compromises.
The more we value the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, the more committed we will be to holiness. When our understanding of our calling and mission is clear, we will serve God in the way He deserves. We will then be able to show God's purity through holiness in our lives and service.
To further advance in priestly duties, one offering sacrifices must discern what is acceptable and what is not. Not every defect is easily visible. An animal's downturned ear or a discharge from its nose signals something wrong internally. An animal that turns only one way shows a blind eye. An experienced eye can detect other external flaws in those who clearly understand what is acceptable and what is not regarding quality.
The worship of God reflects true appreciation, devotion, and love for Him. It deserves our best time. Often, worship is hindered by more urgent responsibilities like business, family, or pleasure. Worship begins in our minds as we consider who God is and what He has done. A sense of awe often starts at the beginning of a new day and can be nurtured in a special way. Truly worshiping the Lord demonstrates the quality of our talents and abilities. Giving Him our "leftovers" is insulting. Yet, many give their best talents to a business and a paycheck, leaving only the little strength we have for the Lord.
It's common to leave even our best treasures for people or purposes unrelated to God's kingdom. When the priests of old offered sacrifices, they had to discern what was best and be willing to reject defective animals. They were not to compromise the holiness of God's people by allowing unholy practices to be directed toward the holy God. Such actions would have profaned His name, and onlookers would say, "They are no better than the Egyptian priests. Nothing in the worship of God is any better than what we left."
The more we value the blessings we have received from God, the more diligently we will worship Him. A clear understanding of who the Lord is and what He has done for us will influence our service for Him. It will motivate us not to allow anything to taint us as we serve with a sincere desire to glorify Him. Likewise, our awareness of His blessings will prevent us from even considering giving Him less than our best time, talents, and treasures.
The purity of our souls is shown through our service to God. We must be committed to being clean internally, externally, and morally. Our responsibility is to avoid unholy contacts, alliances, and compromises, no matter how close they may come to us. This way, we will prevent defilement ourselves and will not be willing to offer to the Lord anything that is defective. Our service deserves purity, and our worship reflects and demonstrates the quality of our faith.