Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:8-10
This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter four - How God Deals with Sin - covering Leviticus 4:1-35, looking specifically at the theme Sin Forms Everywhere. Here, God provides instructions to Moses for the "sin offering", and addresses how the sin offering is to be presented based on several scenarios of unintentional sin, including whether an individual Israelite, an anointed priest, the whole congregation of Israel, an Israelite leader (, or a "common" person commits such an unintentional sin. While the ESV, NKJV, and NIV versions all refer to the offering in Leviticus 4 as a "sin" offering, my commentary writes that "possibly it's best to refer to this sacrifice as the purification offering," as other places in the Bible refer to this offering where there is nothing to do with sin (i.e. childbirth, healing of skin disease, etc.). My commentary emphasizes how God "singles" out leaders in His treatment of sin as God sees these people of influence as key to helping the congregation as a whole avoid sin. We are also urged not to take sin lightly as it is a devastating, not just eternally, but also now. The commentary writes how only four chapters of the Bible have no sin - the first two chapters of Genesis (before sin existed) and the last two chapters of Revelation (when sin is defeated finally). Otherwise, the story of sin is the story of all humanity's history - not just in the Bible but as long as humankind exists on earth. We are urged to see sin as active - always at work and always as something we must battle. Sin also not just separates us from God it impacts our relationships with other people - it is indeed devastating.
Comment and discuss this post here.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me the ability to battle sin in my life - thank You Jesus! I know the victory is Yours! Yet I know I am not deserving of how You bless me as my sin does continue - worry, stress, anger, etc. - please forgive me Jesus! Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
