Prayer: Father, expand my awareness of my sin, whether intentional or not. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Reading: Leviticus 4 key: vs. 13
13 “Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins, but the deed is hidden from the eyes of the community, yet they have done one of Adonai’s mitzvot that are not to be done, then they are guilty.
Attention: I have to admit, that for years, I thought of sin as being something which was personal, individually committed and intentional. Through my years of studying the scriptures, journaling and reading books authored by people who write on a scriptural principle, I became aware that sin can be unintentional and done by omission.
I remember a time as a kid, that I was asked by a grade school teacher to sweep something up. The brooms back then had wood handles which were thick and formidable. They didn’t break easily. I completed the task and in a carefree moment, I tossed the broom into the closet, pivoted around while strongly shutting the door. I could see that the broom was dancing on the straw bristles and falling back towards the heel of the door hinges and I anxiously hoped the door would shut before the broom handle fell in between the door and the jam.
To my horror, the broom handle beat the door closing, and I could hear the sound of a crunch as the broom handle defeated the door hinge and screws. My moment of levity was dissolved into guilt. I knew that I had damaged the door unintentionally. I told my teacher, and I paid the penalty. A note was sent to my parents and damages were assessed.
Many of us who were raised in the church, were taught that sin was something we did. We committed an act which was against God’s law, or disobedience to God, parents or the law of the land. Several years ago I read a book titled, The Hole In Our Gospel, which proposed that there was two types of sin, sins of commission and omission. I recall as a youth hearing someone pray a prayer which asked God to forgive our sins of commission and omission, but I never pursued an understanding till reading this book. What I discovered about sin was found in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The omission is found in the example of the priests who passed by and did nothing. This scripture expands the concept that since can be intentional by doing nothing, choosing to avoid getting involved.
Notice that our scheduled chapter today, Adonai declares to Moses that sin can also be committed corporately (vs. 13) and individually (vs. 27). I wonder how we as a nation have sinned against Adonai. Can it be that we have sinned corporately by going along with culture and believing that if our culture endorses it, it is ok? Are we allowing our culture to set the narrative about right and wrong, rather than the scriptures?
I hope you can see from the scriptures, that we can sin more ways than just being disobedient and intentional. Is sin in any form whether unintentional or through omission, justifiable?
Action: Sin is sin and knowing this, I choose today to live a lifestyle of obedience to Adonai.
Yield: I give myself to willful obedience to Adonai.
Engage: I engage with the Holy Spirit in a lifestyle of obedience.
Relationship: My relationship with Adonai is strengthened by a willful heart and obedience.
Prayer: Father, I praise You today. I yield my concept of sin to Your definition of sin. I am guilty of not always doing what I know to be right. You give abundant grace and mercy, along with consequences of my sin. Amen.
Memory Verse: Jacob (James) 4:17
17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to shine on the land
Music Video: Mercy Me—Greater https://youtu.be/GXI0B4iMLuU
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”