As I watched the fireworks explode over London at just past midnight, from the comfort of my sofa, I thought about the fact that another year had gone and a whole year stretched out ahead with, what Anne of Green Gables would say, ‘has no mistakes in it.’ The new year is a perfect place to think about fresh starts and putting aside bad habits. Many make new year’s resolutions which might include; get fit, lose weight, start a new job, spend more time with the family, write a book … and even, read my Bible. There is nothing wrong with this, it can actually be really helpful to have a reset time and set goals.
Leviticus is about new life and a fresh start. When I had thought of this book in the past, I would have said that it is mostly about the rules for the Israelite community; rules that had been set in place to help a nation that had been trapped in slavery for hundreds of years and were now free. But these rules were to show them how to live in freedom and not go back to their slave mindset. They would help them to stay clean before their Holy GOD.
It was strange then, that GOD’s first instruction about cleansing from sin was not for the really bad stuff. You know the sins I mean, the ones that rank up there with things that majority of the population would never do. But GOD doesn’t see sin that way. Sin is sin. He doesn’t give a score for how sinful a person is. A little white lie or colouring of the truth is the same as murder … it makes me think differently about my own life with that perspective.
But GOD’s first instruction in Leviticus about sin wasn’t just about these types of sin (the ones that went against His commands), He talks about UNINTENTIONAL sin.
Sinning is usually intentional. It is choice to do the right thing or not.
Unintentional sin? This confused me. How can sin be unintentional? I looked it up! Unintentional sin – “to turn aside, to wander, to err, to make a mistake, to miss the mark.” It made me wonder about the reasons why we would, sin, or do these things unintentionally. If it was unintentional, we would have to be believing something about either ourselves, others or the situation as the truth. If it is sinful, our actions, words and thoughts are probably based on believing something wrong – we have let our hearts agree with a lie.
The thing is, unintentional is just that, unintentional! But GOD has brought it to Moses and the Israelites’ attention because He still recognises it as sin. He is still the same today. He sees through the lie, knows the truth and wants us to live a life that glorifies Him. He wants us to be free of unintentional sin. When He has highlighted something in our lives, it is very difficult to be unintentional again. We no longer have the excuse of not knowing. Are we brave enough to ask Him to show us?
I want to begin my year with having GOD at my centre. I want to be like David had have a heart after GOD’s own heart. David wrote many Psalms but one of my favourites is 139. This is my prayer for myself … will you pray it too?
Search me and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
For this year, how about we make it our priority to live wholeheartedly for Him. May our lives be full of intentionality … intentionally seeking Him, following Him, loving Him, being led by Him, allowing Him to change us and make us like Him.
If you are reading this at the beginning of the year or have stumbled upon it at some other time, it is never too late for a fresh start.
Katy 😉
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