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S (Scripture): Leviticus 4:20
Through this process, the priest will purify the people, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.
O (Observation): Being made right with God was made through a sin offering....young bulls, goats, sheep etc.
A (Application): As we begin closing the season of Lent, our eyes begin to move from the cross to the empty tomb. As the days approached in the readings to the close of Exodus, I began to dread reading Leviticus again. It is one of those books....lots of law, little grace. Yet, in it, is a great discovery about who God is and how God is directing God's people. God is establishing a pattern of confession and forgiveness. A pattern of making God's people in right relationship....of being made holy.
No one really likes being confronted with their sins or discovering their guilt. yet there is power in the words that surround this chapter of Leviticus. If one of the leaders, priests, common people, entire community don’t realize they have sinned, they are still guilty. The sin offering is offered for unintentional sin so that the people, priests and community will be made right with God.
As we close the season of Lent we recognize the final sin offering is made by Jesus on the Cross and through him we are forgiven by ALL of the unintentional sins we make. Besides where the heck do you buy a young bull anyway...I got a mighty lot of sins I need forgiven of.
P (Prayer): Lord, thank you for making us right with you through your son instead of sacrificing animals because of our sin.