Today’s devotion comes from Leviticus 4:1-21. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%204&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slay the bull before the LORD. Then the anointed priest is to take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the tent of meeting, and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. The priest shall also put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense which is before the LORD in the tent of meeting; and all the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering which is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. He shall remove from it all the fat of the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys (just as it is removed from the ox of the sacrifice of peace offerings), and the priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering. But the hide of the bull and all its flesh with its head and its legs and its entrails and its refuse, that is, all the rest of the bull, he is to bring out to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.” Leviticus 4:1-12.
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Today’s Scripture gives us two hopes which I will point out in this devotion.
First, there is the hope of provisions that the LORD gives us when we sin unintentionally, so to speak. Now, we should be careful, because it is too easy to claim that we sin unintentionally, when we, in fact, sin very intentionally. But, the LORD knows our weaknesses and gives us sympathy and grace.
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16.
“23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24.
“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.
In summary, Reformed Doctrine teaches us to live by the standard of grace. When we sin unintentionally, God will reveal it to us. In the language of the above-stated Psalm, God will reveal any hurtful way in us and lead us in the everlasting way. But, as the following Scripture also teaches us, “let us keep living by that same standard (namely, the standard of grace) to which we have attained.”
“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Philippians 3:12-16.
Second, there is hope in the disposition of the remains of the bull outside the camp. The Scripture below also confirms the importance of “Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace”. We may sin intentionally and unintentionally in this world. But, let us keep seeking those things above, let us keep pressing on. “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
“Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Hebrews 13:9-14.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 