Day 48

There is a bit of a repeated idea in the text today, and it is that of sinning without necessarily knowing you have sinned. You read something along the lines of “if anyone sins unintentionally” frequently through this reading. But one thing you don’t read is that it’s no big deal. Unintentional sin is still sin. And when someone realized their guilt they were still to bring the appropriate offering to deal with that sin.

Almighty and most merciful Father,

we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires

of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done,

and we have done those things which we ought not

to have done;

and apart from your grace, there is no health in us.

O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Spare all those who confess their faults.

Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises

declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life,

to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

This is a very common and well known prayer of confession. I love how it addresses things done and things left undone. I think you can apply that to things done knowingly and things done unknowingly (unintentionally). But I also love that this is a prayer for the mercy of Jesus and an appeal to his sacrifice that was once for all for the sins of his people. Sin is nothing to take lightly and reading of all these sacrifices and the entire system should direct our hearts to the worth of Christ’s single and ultimate sacrifice. Let us praise him and let us seek to walk in a way that is worthy of our calling. May He cleanse us from all sin and help us to put it to death that we may walk in the newness of life we have in Christ.