February 7, 2009 Confession
Today’s Bible reading: Leviticus 4–6; Acts 14
Scripture Focus:
Leviticus 5:5-6 And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; and he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.
Observation:
Leviticus 4–6 is all about atoning for sin. Sin is wrong and must be punished or atoned for, and God graciously provided a way of atonement through animal sacrifices. I can look at this now, removed from it by centuries, and it seems incomprehensible. Oh, the blood and gore of it all! Oh, the innocence of the animals!
But that is the point. Sin is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated by a holy God. Would we say of a child molester and murderer, “Oh, well. Let them go. To each his own.” Never! Justice must be done! What I tend to forget is that ALL sin is abhorrent to a holy God. My sin is abhorrent and real and must be atoned for as well.
When Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, it was bloody. It was dreadful. Oh, the innocence of the Lamb of God! But it was necessary to atone for the sins of the world . . . for my sins.
Application:
It was for my sin that Jesus died. That is why I confessed my sins when I first came to Jesus, and that is why I John 1:9 says we are to continue to confess our sins. God will forgive our sins—because the price has already been paid for them by Jesus.
Prayer:
Abba Father, thank you for making the ultimate, bloody sacrifice for my sins. With a grateful heart, may I walk in holiness today.
