Ignorance

From: firstlight@billriceranch.org

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We may sin in ignorance, but restitution and fellowship are deliberate acts

Leviticus 4:28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. I can remember that when one of my younger sisters would get into trouble, she would often protest, "But, Mommy, I did it on an accident." That was her excuse. I think she may have learned that from me. All of us like to plead ignorance when we get in trouble. If I'm pulled over for a speeding ticket, I may say, "Officer, I didn't know I was going that fast." If a child gets corrected for talking in class, he may say, "Oh, I didn't know we weren't supposed to talk." We like to plead ignorance when we are trying to defend something we have done wrong. Leviticus 4:2 says, "Speak unto the children of Israel saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them…" Then it goes on to talk about the offering that was to be offered. Verse 3 talks about the offering a priest was to bring if he sinned in ignorance. Verses 13-14 say, "And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly… when the sin…is known then…"It goes on to talk about the offering that was to be made. Verses 22-23 say, "When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance…if his sin…come to his knowledge." Verse 27 says, "And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance." Verse 28 says, "If his sin… come to his knowledge." And then it talks about the offering that was to be made. It is very easy to do the wrong things automatically. We don't have to think much about it. It is just our default mode. On the other hand, doing right and having fellowship with God takes work, thought, and God's grace. We may sin in ignorance, but restitution and fellowship are deliberate acts. God may make a distinction between willful, deliberate acts of rebellion and acts that are unpremeditated or done in ignorance. However, God never puts a premium on ignorance. Today, we ought to put a premium on the truth. The only way to know the truth is to know what God has said. That is what Leviticus is. It is a book full of what God said. God is revealing Himself as the holy God that He is. So put a premium on the truth, and not on being ignorant. Also, put a premium on fellowship. A person may go through life oblivious, but he is not going to have the kind of relationship with God that he should have if he lives that way. Put a premium on fellowship and the truth, doing right by God and thereby doing right by others. Prayer Requests: -Meetings this week in Poplar Bluff, MO Share Share Share Enjoy more devotionals, sermon audio, and articles on our website! Read Past Devotionals Bill Rice Ranch 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road, Murfreesboro, TN, 37128