God's Claim on the Totality of Disciples Lives

Leviticus 11:42-45 (NIV)
42 You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable. 43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them. 44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. 45 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

As we survey the scriptures we see a constant theme throughout. It is clear over and over again, that God wants to lay claim to every part of our lives. He wants us to remember He alone is the Lord and ruler of our entire lives. He wants to remind us with every action that He is present and that He has the say no matter what it is. Everything we do concerns our Father in heaven: what we eat, drink, wear, and touch. These outdated laws appear to be easily dismissed as antiquated and useless for the modern followers of God. But are they? Is God less concerned with these same matters today? I would surmise not. The Israelites were not burdened by these commands, as we might project upon them a great burden. These were delightful and life giving commands.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 119:13-16 (NIV)
13 With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.

It does my soul good to ponder these OT thoughts that emphasize God's claim on the totality of my life. He is a good and upright God who desires to influence and have involvement in every aspect of my life, not just the 'religious' ones. The idea of surrendering to such an invasive God does not fit in with our modern-day, make your own religion, mentality. Hopefully we can see how good it is to fall totally into the care of this ever concerned Father.