Unshaved
One of my routines or habits is the shave every morning. I grew a beard many years ago in my college days, but I got tired of it fairly quick. I’m glad there aren’t many pictures from way back then. I do have a goatee that has worked for me for years. I may save about 60 seconds a day by not shaving my chin. J
I’ve often wondered why the Lord gave such specific instructions to the high priests who served before Him. I imagine that they looked much like the Duck Dynasty boys. Check this out…
5 ‘“Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies. 6 They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the food offerings to the Lord, the food of their God, they are to be holy. (Leviticus 21:5-6 NIV)
I am not opposed to facial hair or even long hair. I’m sure that the Lord made sure it was kept clean as well. I sometimes wonder why the Lord gave us facial hair in the first place. I’m thinking it may have been for protective reasons as some of my bald friends do not have much to protect them and a bump on the head could mean a small cut because there’s no hair.
The only application I could make of this passage was that the Lord wanted the priest to be unaltered from how he was created. I believe the Lord wanted the priest to be clean and neat. The requirements of the priest were very strict and detailed. I’m glad that through the death of Jesus we can approach God shaven or not. The things that made the priests unclean are no longer roadblocks to us approaching God directly. I’m thankful that the Lord has forgiven all my sin and He’s made it possible for me to connect directly to Him all the time. It’s often more of a tragedy that I get so busy in my life stuff that I neglect spending time in His Presence. I do believe that He’s present in my life 24/7 through the Holy Spirit. I also believe He loves for me to spend time talking with Him and listening to Him.
I believe that the Lord looks past my outward appearance and looks at the appearance of my heart. My heart needs to be pure and protected for His sake. He is more concerned with my heart that my slick shaven face.
Pressing On!
Dwayne