Wow! There’s a lot of blood in the Old Testament! Today’s reading deeply explored burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and the ordination and peace offerings. One of the phrases that stood out was, “…you must admit your guilt.” I noticed a related phrase: “…you must confess your sin.”
Another thing that stood out was sinning unknowingly and knowingly sinning. Even if Israel obeyed where they knew to obey, there were times when they sinned unknowingly, only to realize it later. In both cases, they were guilty. Both instances required confession. Both required a sacrifice. Both could be forgiven!
Israel was an imperfect people. But that didn’t stop a perfect God from wanting to dwell among them! When Israel sinned, they could be made right with God through sacrifice. Yes, blood had to be shed. But God accepted it! Guilt and fear did not need to define them; forgiveness could! Their imperfections did not need to define them; the goodness of God could!
As believers, we, too, sin, and we, too, have this same God!
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8–9, ESV)
As believers, do we sin? Yes! Do we, at times, sin only to realize it later? Yes! Are we going to bear the guilt of that sin? Are we going to let fear and guilt define us? Must we accept defeat? Do we have to worry that God won’t forgive us? Do we have to let failure destroy our joy? Do we have to let the devil discourage us by putting thoughts in our minds like, “There you go again! You blew it! You’re worthless! You’ll never measure up! God is mad at you!”
We have a simple but powerful answer to all of those things! Like Israel, we admit our guilt and confess our sins to God. A faithful God will forgive and cleanse us from our sins and all unrighteousness! Why? Because Jesus is our sacrifice! And God accepts Jesus!
A perfect God still wants to have a relationship with us imperfect people! Let’s live in the joy of being made right with God!
Tomorrow’s reading: Leviticus 8-10:20