Differences

Differences

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭44:23‬

Differences make us, well, different. It is the thing that separates us from each other. A uniqueness. Otherwise, it is all the same. 

Ezekiel was a prophet. He was leading people out of 70 years of captivity and trying to bring the people hope. He was bringing the people back to God and bringing God to the people. He was addressing the requirements of the priests. 

It’s interesting how people love to point out the differences in things. It’s like a reward for finding something. 

Don’t worry, I do it as well. “Oh look, that guy is missing a shoe”.  

We’ve become so inept at finding differences in things that we fail to see the uniqueness in a thing. If you’re going to be different, it should be pleasing to God. 

When we see something different it is usually a comparative observation. We point out one thing against something else. The other thing is usually lacking something. Or at least that’s usually what the difference is pointing out. Or maybe it’s the addition of something. In either case, it’s generally not the same as the comparative object. 

In this verse, Ezekiel is talking about the requirements of the priests. He says that people will tell the difference between the holy and profane. 

Differences aren’t a ‘one or the other’ thing.  You can see differences in an obvious manner. Here, holy is very different than profane and you would be able to point those out considerably. 

Here, in the verse, one is bad and one is good. In most cases with differences, that’s why we point something out. Not always, but usually. 

Let say you had two chairs in a living room to sit in. They were identical recliners. One rocked smoothly back and forth and reclined effortlessly. Let’s say the other went too far back, made noise and had a very uncomfortable seat. Which one would you choose and why?

Why, is the differences, the reasons. 

We can choose to be holy or profane. It’s a choice and a clear difference. The why is the reason we choose to be different. The reasons are substantial. We can choose clean and unclean things. These things can be music, movies, people, what we put in our bodies, circumstances and even our behavior. 

I have lived the difference. Some of you reading this have lived the difference. And if you haven’t, you surely know someone that has. 

Here’s the thing, you will clearly see and know the difference. Even while you are living the difference, you will know. 

A Christian family that places God at the front of their lives and lives to serve and please God is the difference. They set aside everything else for God. And they can give you the reasons. 

You ask what is the difference? Everything else. 

Are our lives displaying the life we tell everyone else that we are living? Do we share our love for God with others?  Are we living a life pleasing to God?

Or do we just let things be the way they are?

Be the difference.