Good morning, as we bring our first month to a close, we will look at Leviticus 5-7. I have grown in the Lord this month. I hope you have as well.
Unintentional sin
Some people live in denial of their sinfulness. When they do, 1 John 1:10 tells us they are accusing Jesus of being a liar. They claim that He did not need to die for their transgressions because they refuse to accept they have made any.
Here in Leviticus chapter 5, we read of the many unintentional sins we all commit. Many without our knowledge. Getting through life is messy. Unaware that we are enabling sin, our help implicates us in it. Fearing accusations like those against Daniel Penny, we avert our gaze from certain things. We avoid helping when given the chance.
Sin is wrong, whether we intended to commit it. God is holy. He is light, not shadow. He will not tolerate some sin and prosecute others, that would be contrary to His holy nature.
Therefore, we all can trust the Bible when it claims we all sin and need a Savior. Even an unintentional sin requires a sacrifice.
Realized sin
It also is important that we realize these sins.
We must go to the Lord, who is omniscient, and ask Him to show us areas where we have sin in our lives. He is faithful and will bring them to our minds. Allowing us to confess them.
Verse 5:17 establishes that our awareness doesn’t change our culpability; we are guilty all the same. So atonement would be necessary.
One time when I was in financial distress. While returning an item to CompUSA, when that store was still in existence; I needed the money back so that I could keep our utilities on. Even getting food to feed my family was in question. As I waited at the customer service counter, with no one around me, I looked at the ground and there was a fifty-dollar bill.
When the clerk came up to the counter, I held it up and said I just found it on the ground, holding the currency up. He looked around and said, “congratulations, I guess it’s yours!”
I put it in my pocket and went home to share the good news with my wife.
Leviticus 6:3 states that those who conceal lost property or commit perjury are culpable. Now I had not lied about it but I accepted the lie which the clerk had said. To be holy, and we are to be holy (see 1 Pet 1:15), I should have said, “it is not mine.”
Genuine faith would believe that God would have blessed me, and provided more than what I gained by keeping the cash.
I don’t make this point to cause anyone to feel guilty. Let’s not pretend we’re all innocent.
Forgiven sin
When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins, He forgives all our sins. Sins we had committed, sin we will commit. Sins we intended and the unintentional. Big sins, minor sins.
When I began my walk with God, I desired to be that detail-oriented. I knew that every word of the Bible was true and tried to keep each one.
That is why over twenty-five years later, I remember that moment in CompUSA.
Over time, we become numbed. The feeling of forgiven sins becomes commonplace, so we commit them without concern.
We know the unintentional sins are happening, but as long as we don’t think about them, we can sleep easier.
In Leviticus 6:13 we are told to not let the flame go out. We are to read the Bible daily so that these details are fresh in our hearts and minds. So that we do not become complacent about sin.
When we do this, we live with the correct lens on what a mighty sacrifice it was that Jesus made. He died for us, knowing how sinful we all are (see Rom 5:8).
Having the correct perspective on this enables us to give him the thanksgiving offering we are called to give.
While praying about my sins, as God brings them to my knowledge, I can sometimes hear the hammer striking the nails that were driven through my Savior’s hands and feet. I can sense the pain He endured for me, and each sin added to the guilt He took on for me.
God wants us to be aware of all of this, not because He still holds it against us. It is all forgiven, forever. But, so that we have that passion to tell others about our Lord.
