By Linda Wegner
Have you ever been in a situation where a sense of obligation took precedence over your enjoyment of the event? I sure have and hockey games are just one example. Sincere apologies to my son, my dear friends and all others who derive great pleasure over seeing a puck scoot from one end of the arena to the other but I just can鈥檛 get excited over it. On the other hand, I doubt that those same folks would enjoy sitting through a classical concert as much as do. In other words, the same things don鈥檛 always appeal to the same people. How鈥檚 this for an example:
In my latest 鈥渞ead through the entire Bible鈥� adventure, once again I found myself slogging through the Book of Exodus. But not only that, in the back of my mind was the realization that Leviticus was coming next. Like Exodus, Leviticus is the next Old Testament history book filled with instructions. 鈥淩ead on,鈥� I found myself exhorting myself 鈥淩ead and on and on.鈥�
This week, however, a fresh new light was cast on these verses, a light that will forever change my attitude toward the multiplicity of God鈥檚 instructions and stringent demands regarding the people鈥檚 place and mode of worship. To that I gratefully add: 鈥淭hank God for the freedom we now enjoy because of Christ鈥檚 sacrifice on Calvary.鈥�
Here鈥檚 the catch: Just because I don鈥檛 have to sew curtains and transport a sacred Ark in a particular way, doesn鈥檛 remove the obligation I have to walk before God and people in a manner that is marked by integrity, honesty and genuine caring for others. Sometimes it doesn鈥檛 seem too hard; other times, it鈥檚 downright tough to respond to unpleasant people and difficult circumstances.
鈥淭he integrity of the upright will guide them鈥�.鈥� Proverbs 11:3
Music and Exodus 鈥� both gifts!
