February 17
Leviticus 4:1-6:30
Whoops. When we make a mistake, we often try to excuse it, rationalize it, or deal with it in a way that keeps us from feeling guilty. There is no actual guilt when it is a spilled glass of milk or a careless accident, but when it comes to areas of morality, the consequence is guilt. The only way of forgiveness is confession. When Israel unintentionally sinned, then became aware of it, they needed to deal with it. God called the nation to make a sacrifice to cover over their sin. Depending on the position and wealth of the individual, they had to come to the priest and offer a bull, ram, goat, bird, or flour.
For the Israelites there was always a material cost to their sin─while we are prone to taking sin too lightly. If we become aware of a past (or even present) sin, we may find ourselves saying "whoops" or saying a quick, meaningless "I'm sorry" without any heart response. What God seeks is true confession that will reveal itself in repentance. He wants us to recognize that our sin (no matter how trivial) put Jesus on the cross and is keeping us from experiencing the fullness of life Christ’s death makes available to us. Let us take time to slow down, allow God to reveal sins in our lives, and ask God for his forgiveness. God is "faithful and just and will forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).
Father God, I confess my sin. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by ____________________. I confess my sin and thank you that through the sacrifice of Jesus I am forgiven. Help me to walk with you in holiness and bring you glory today. Amen.
How can you take steps towards holiness in the area you confessed in the prayer?
Whoops. When we make a mistake, we often try to excuse it, rationalize it, or deal with it in a way that keeps us from feeling guilty. There is no actual guilt when it is a spilled glass of milk or a careless accident, but when it comes to areas of morality, the consequence is guilt. The only way of forgiveness is confession. When Israel unintentionally sinned, then became aware of it, they needed to deal with it. God called the nation to make a sacrifice to cover over their sin. Depending on the position and wealth of the individual, they had to come to the priest and offer a bull, ram, goat, bird, or flour.
For the Israelites there was always a material cost to their sin─while we are prone to taking sin too lightly. If we become aware of a past (or even present) sin, we may find ourselves saying "whoops" or saying a quick, meaningless "I'm sorry" without any heart response. What God seeks is true confession that will reveal itself in repentance. He wants us to recognize that our sin (no matter how trivial) put Jesus on the cross and is keeping us from experiencing the fullness of life Christ’s death makes available to us. Let us take time to slow down, allow God to reveal sins in our lives, and ask God for his forgiveness. God is "faithful and just and will forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).
Father God, I confess my sin. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you by ____________________. I confess my sin and thank you that through the sacrifice of Jesus I am forgiven. Help me to walk with you in holiness and bring you glory today. Amen.
How can you take steps towards holiness in the area you confessed in the prayer?
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Thank you for this, Derek. Jim’s reference to Ps 28:9 yesterday was a wake up call! If we feel our prayers aren’t going any further than the ceiling, there could be some unrepented sin we’re carrying. Let us be like David in Ps 139:23 and ask God to search us and reveal any sin so we can repent in a timely way.