Leviticus and Our Sin (part 2)

Yesterday I briefly wrote on the Seriousness of Sin as observed in the book of Leviticus. Today I want to share with you a second challenge/encouragement.

2. Sin is Costly. Because sin is serious Leviticus also teaches us that it is costly. In other words there is a price to be paid for sin. In Leviticus we find that a persons sin would cost them a beast of the field, a bird of the air, or some grain (in the case of the poor). But beyond the material cost there was the humiliation of a public confession. Not that the sinner would announce to everyone the specifics of his sin (though he probably did to the priest), but just walking that animal to the tabernacle was probably considered a "walk of shame" because everyone knew that you or someone in your house had broken one of God's perfect commandments.

Because we tend to make light of sin we also tend to forget how costly sin is. We often take for granted the sacrifice of Christ, never considering the high price He paid for our salvation. Also, because we tend to make light of sin we often fail to humble ourselves by confessing our sin to God and even more so to others.

Take some time today and consider the cross; consider the high price that Jesus paid for your sin. Take time to humble yourself and confess your sins to God and to others (certainly those you have offended).

Leviticus and Our Sin

For those who are following the Scripture reading plan we are now 8 chapters into the book of Leviticus. In these first eight chapters we read of sin, animal sacrifice, blood, alters, priests, guilt, and much, much more.

As I have been reading there are three truths that have challenged/encouraged me and that I hope might challenge/encourage you as you consider Leviticus.

1. Sin is Serious. In Leviticus God takes the sin of His people very seriously, even the sins that they have committed unknowingly (5:14). In Leviticus we see our Holy God demanding justice for those who would violate His perfect commands. This is important for us to understand, because we live in a culture that treats God's perfect commands and our violation of those perfect commands (sin) as a joke; a punchline on a prime time sitcom. Sin is no joke. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin destroys people, families and churches.

If there is one lesson we must learn from Leviticus it is that sin is serious and we must treat it as such. Where are you prone to make light of sin? What do you find non-offensive (maybe even funny) that God finds offensive? Are you giving more attention to Scripture (where we learn of the perfect commands of our Holy God) or the media (where they treat God's commands as a joke)?

More to come tomorrow....

Killing Pride & Cultivating Humilty (part 2)

Picking up where we left off yesterday here are suggestion 3 & 4 for killing pride and cultivating humility.

3. Study and apply the doctrine of sin to your own life. Romans 1-3 is a revealing set of chapters on the subject of our sinfulness. The Enemy Within is a great book written by Kris Lungaard (it is actually a modern synopsis of John Owens classic work The Temptation and Mortification of Sin). But more important than learning about your sinfulness is doing something about it. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself as you apply the doctrine of sin to your own life: Are you specifically confessing sins to the appropriate individuals, as well as your present temptations? Are you confessing sin specifically? Are you confessing your sin fully? Or is your confession selective and partial (which means that ultimately it is misleading)? Remember that pride works to blind us from our sin (1 Corinthians 10:12) and it's consequences (Numbers 32:23). Start fully confessing your sin because God resists the proud (the non-confessors) and gives grace to the humble (the confessors).

4. Consistently practice the spiritual disciplines. Practicing the spiritual disciplines of Scripture meditation, prayer, and Bible memorization makes a huge statement: "GOD I NEED YOU!" It is a statement of my need for Him and my dependence upon Him, which kills pride and cultivates humility. But if you turn the tables and avoid the spiritual disciplines you are saying by your actions: "GOD I DO NOT NEED YOU!" And that is the essence of pride.

Tomorrow we will introduce 3 more suggestions...feel free to post comments and/or questions.