Got Milk?

Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Though previous generations enjoyed milk directly from the cow, today’s health officials warn that raw milk carries increased risk of contamination. But supporters of raw milk say pasteurization destroys nutrients.

Although some of us grew up on farms, most of us now get our milk from stores where we have enough choices to make Betsy the Cow’s head spin: standardized, whole, reduced fat, low fat, skim, nonfat, buttermilk, organic, acidophilus . . .

Grabbing that gallon of milk forces us to make a choice about separation, whether we realize it or not. After it stands awhile, fresh milk has a tendency to separate into a high-fat cream layer on top and a thinner layer below. When we grab our particular jug of choice, we’re determining our preferred degree of separation.

The processing of milk reflects a wider truth. At the last day, God will separate the cream from the skim, the wheat from the chaff, and the sheep from the goats. Until then, we should lead lives of separation, holy and pleasing to Him, to “come out from among them” and be separate. Perhaps there’s something we need to skim off the top of our lives today.

Measure your growth in grace by your sensitiveness to sin.

OSWALD CHAMBERS