Leviticus 5: 14-17 - The LORD said to Moses: "When
a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in
regard to any of the LORD's holy things, he is to bring to the LORD as a
penalty a ram from the flock, one
without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary
shekel. It is a guilt offering. He
must make restitution for what he has failed to do in
regard to the holy things, add a fifth of the value to that
and give it all to the priest, who will make atonement for him with the ram as
a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven. "If a person sins and does
what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know
it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.
God wasn’t through giving Moses directions for us….he used
this chapter to give Moses another type of sacrifice…the guilt offering. It
called for the person who had sinned…intentionally or accidently…to bring a
sacrifice…to make restitution for their sin…to replace and renew the relationship
that had been damaged. God makes sure
that he included everyone when he used the word….unintentionally. Everyone was to bring a sacrifice…just in
case…and offer it to God….to show their humility…to show they understood that
human nature will begin to boast in how good it is if not kept in check.
Most of us have a hard time recalling the last time we
intentionally sinned against God…but this chapter clearly says that we have
sinned…and will sin again. We find this concept many places in the bible…but
perhaps most clearly is that great verse in Romans ...that says ,” For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) God opened up a whole can of new worms for us
with this chapter…he gives us the knowledge that we are all sinners…whether we
realize it or not. Only one person walked this earth perfect…and that was Jesus
himself.
It is a mixture of recognition and remorse that God is
looking for here. Sacrifice without remorse is a moot point anyway! If in our
daily walk in this tainted world…we sin…it just makes sense to ask God to
reveal it and get it off our record….who wants unresolved sin in their life to
hold back the potential blessings waiting for us as we humble ourselves before
God and bring our offering to him…because we know he is the only one who can
wash us clean again. My life application
Bible said it was a sort of vaccination against a very dangerous disease!
I know I am guilty of sin….and even though I try to confess
every morning the new one that God reveals to me…there are probably thousands
of others that I block from my memory. I get ahead of God and try to use my own
judgment to figure out what he wants…or I make foolish promises….that couldn’t
be kept if I had tried. I know that
Peter really did not realize his sin in denying the Christ until that rooster
crowed ..(Matthew 26:75)…his promise to God was heartfelt at the time he
uttered it. He had no clue what was
about to happen. And Judas even thought he was doing the right thing…forcing Jesus
into some kind of Military King here on Earth…(Matthew 27:3)…look what his
remorse drove him to do.
It really is simple…we just need to let go of our human pride…that
tries to convince us we are better than we are…and we allow God’s sweet love to
turn us into creatures of pure humility…never questioning or trying to argue
that we in ourselves know what we are doing is right…and pure. Which means that we accept that we know we
have sinned…and will sin again…so we just need to take that vaccine…and inoculate
ourselves with the word of God….and pray like crazy… and study…and surround
ourselves with other Christians that are thirsty to spread his love to others….so
that God can keep us strong….and maybe help us recognize this sin ….so we can
ask his forgiveness….and be restored to his glory….and be in his presence
again. Sorry…I know that is one whopper
of a run on sentence…but isn’t that where we end up if we stay on the self-righteous
side of this issue…a huge mess of life that runs on and on with absolutely no real
meaning or purpose to anyone but ourselves?
Father…you are so amazing…to make provisions for me to be
forgiven of sin I don’t even know I have committed yet. Allow me this day to
ask you to forgive me of all I have done in the past…and all you know I will do
in the future. Give me a passion to seek
you…and study your word….and pray for your guidance and wisdom to know what to
do …what to say..and where to go to be your vessel. Remove completely from my brain the selfish
thoughts and confidence I have built up in my own mind…and replace it with a
peace that I know I am walking in your great…perfect will for me. Let my
actions show the love of you…as I replace my humanness with your presence
alone. Amen
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