B 90 Days SOAP: Even unintentional sin is sin

Day 8 of The Bible in 90 Days

Scripture: Leviticus 4: 27

” ‘If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, he is guilty.

Observation: Even sinning by mistake is sinning. And when you do it, you are guilty.

Application: Yikes. Sin is sin.. even when it is unintentional.

I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that comes from Him because I know I make lots of mistakes. Here it says that I am guilty of sin even when it is unintentional. So without Him, I’d really be toast.

This verse also makes me think about my kids. The other day my 8 year-old did something unintentionally that hurt his brother. I encouraged him to say he was sorry. Our conversation went something like this:

“Oh my sweet gift from God whom I have the privilege to rear, I see that you have made a mistake and upset your dear brother, who is also God’s child. Please share with him that you are sorry.”

Okay, so it didn’t go exactly like that. Or close to that. But you get the picture. I’ll continue:

“But I didn’t MEAN to do it!” He grumbled back to me.

“I know that you didn’t mean to, and that is why you need to say that you are sorry. Your mistake was exactly that: Something you did that you did not mean to do. And that is why you should express regret and apologize,” I said. “You want him to know that you didn’t mean to hurt him.”

So he apologized, kind of, and his brother accepted the apology and the day went on.

I  make lots of mistakes… sometimes just after writing here that I won’t make that mistake anymore.

And those mistakes are sin, even if I didn’t mean to. And it is important that I recognize my sin and apologize to God so I can accept forgiveness and try harder next time.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for gently teaching me and always forgiving me. At first it seemed unreasonable to me that even my mistakes make me guilty of sin. But they are mistakes and they are just that: Sin.

Please continue to guide me away from sin. Reading your Word has certainly helped, but I still sin. Daily. And you know that all too well.

Thank you for that forgiveness which you so graciously give to me and to all who seek it. It is a pretty amazing gift. Thank you.

Confession: Staying focused on today’s reading presented a bit of a challenge for me. I’m not sure if it was because I haven’t been getting to bed on time lately or if because of, um, well, the content, but my mind kept wandering.

My reason for sharing this with you is because I want those of you who are reading to stay as focused and motivated as you can and keep reading with me. Every word of the Bible is God-breathed and He wants us to read it. And you can. And by the end of the 90 days you will have. Just sit tight, pray and read.

In the Bible in 90 Days Week 2 Audio Lesson, Jack Modesett, Jr. warns us that the reading we are heading into this week is much like hitting the wall in a marathon. Be sure to set aside about 25 minutes to listen to his message and gain some great insight and then hop on back into that reading. We’ll discuss your thoughts on Twitter Monday night from 8-9 CST using the #B90Days hashtag.


Comments

21 responses to “B 90 Days SOAP: Even unintentional sin is sin”

  1. smamf1922 Avatar
    smamf1922

    For all who are following and reading the Bible in 90 days, I encourage you to go to the link above and listen to Week 2 Audio Lesson. I started to listen and then couldn’t get how/ why Jack was talking about specific things. BUT, then I started the audio over again and truly listened. The third time I listened to it all the way through and what an understanding I gained. Give yourself this gift as you begin week 2!

  2.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    http://realfaithjourney.blogspot.com/2011/07/blogging-through-b90days-day-8-god.html

    God takes obedience seriously!
    Nadab and Abihu were literally and figuratively playing with fire!!

  3. Thanks for the resource.

  4. […] passage about unintentional sins was interesting as well. I have had this discussion with the children when they have gotten too […]

  5. This part of the Bible reading is harder for me to get through as well. I get bogged down, and find it not quite as interesting as the more “story parts” of Genesis. One thing I have found that helps me is to listen to the Bible readings on CDs that I have, while at the same time following along with reading in the Bible. By having the audio playing, it helps keep me on track and keeps my mind from wandering.

  6. Rhonda A Avatar
    Rhonda A

    Like Michelle commented, I was disappointed that Aaron made the false god (what was he thinking?!) and perplexed that God let him continue as a leader. God sees things in us that we are tempted to deny – our sins as well as our duties.

  7. […] Day 8: Even unintentional sin is sin […]

  8. I must admit I had a hard time also with this reading. I actually left a little bit for the next day because I kept falling asleep. So much detail and repitition! The end of Exodus seemed similar with the description of the Tent of Meeting also. I must say though I never knew much of this was even in the Bible so it already has been a huge learning experience and I’m not giving up! Paula

    1. I’m so glad you aren’t giving up!
      One warning: try especially hard to stay current this week. This week has a lot of slow reading, so you want want to fall behind.

  9. I am so glad I am not the only one that felt today’s reading was tough. It took me twice as long to read it. I kept getting distracted…shiny thing, shiny thing! LOL
    But even as I struggle through it, I am so glad that I am atleast reading the words. God is very detailed, indeed!
    Nicole
    .-= Nicole Ross´s last blog ..Yogurt Making 101 =-.

    1. He is detailed and I am so glad you are sticking with it… even through all the details that make slow reading. It’s all God-breathed, and wants us to hear it.

  10. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Great observation today. Your devotion is exactly what I needed to hear today.However…for todays reading I thought to myself, “Oh Leviticus…you make my head hurt!”.

    However, I did find something kind of interesting that I never noticed before. I think God has a great sense of humor. Did you notice the animal that Aaron had to sacrifice for his sin offering? A calf. What made me laugh is that Aaron made the golden calf for the Israelites to bow down to. It was like God was saying, “Aaron, every time you bring me this SIN offering, I want to remind you that I am the one you bow down to buddy!”

    It did make my mind go crazy that God still used Aaron despite him bowing to a false idol and leading others to do to it as well. We have a merciful God. Thank God He can still use us besides our mistakes. The ones we know about and the ones we don’t.

    1. Wow! I have never caught that about the calf and the calf! And I love it, although it would sure be humbling if that were me.
      Thanks for your great comment!

  11. Wow! What a great site….I first heard you this week on Haven today…which led me to your site. I have heard Ted Cooped before on haven today also, but this is the first time I am seriously thinking about taking up the challenge to read the Bible in 90 days. I have been a Christian for many years but I must confess there are parts of the Bible that I have not read. So I think this challenge is for me!!! As I have begun to read I must confess that my mind wonders a bit. Will my brain eventually stay focused on my reading? Please help!!!
    Thanks

    1. Thanks! Yes, it will wander at times, lot’s of them.
      But pray for focus and direction and don’t give up!
      And, yes there will be many,many more times that you will be captivated.

  12. I love that you picked up on this too! And your illustration with your kids is a great one – I have to deal with that kind of explaining with my boys as well. But it sure does help put it into perspective of what God tells us!
    .-= Mandi´s last blog ..Hidden Musical =-.

    1. Glad I’m not the only one. :)

  13. Cassie Jowers Avatar
    Cassie Jowers

    With all the sin offerings they had to do, how did they have time to sin, unintentional or otherwise? I’m just wondering how many goats and sheep they had to have to support all the offerings.

    1. I know I’d need a lot of sheep and goats. :)

  14. Hi Amy,

    During some of my reading, I def. noticed this scripture as well. Sin is sin, even when one doesn’t realize. Boy – do we need God! On guard everyone, take up His armor. Every day can be a battle so to speak.

    Jen

    1. So true!

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