Day 47

Leviticus 4-5 | Romans 9:30-10:21 | Proverbs 4

There’s a phrase in Leviticus 4:14 that I can’t let go:

“When the sin which they committed becomes known…”

How terrifying is that?

Sin isn’t always intentional. Sometimes, we do wrong without even realizing it. And yet, ignorance doesn’t erase guilt.

That’s exactly what Leviticus 4-5 describes:

• “If a person sins unintentionally… and does any of them…” (Lev 4:2)
• “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from their eyes…” (Lev 4:13)
• “When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord his God…” (Lev 4:22)
• “Though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.” (Lev 5:17)

We don’t mean to. But we do.

That’s unsettling. How many times have I spoken too quickly, made a careless judgment, or let my heart drift in ways I wasn’t even fully aware of?

Like when I let frustration creep into my tone with Sophia over something trivial, then realize later she was just trying to connect with me.

Or when I scroll past a brother’s prayer request without a second thought, only to remember later that I promised I’d pray for them.

Or when I mentally criticize a colleague during a meeting, unaware of the weight they’re carrying that day.

Or when I let a subtle pride settle in my heart—because I’d never do that—until I realize, much later, that I already have.

It’s not just the sins we deliberately commit—it’s the ones we don’t even notice. The ones that, at the time, felt harmless.

Leviticus lays out an entire system of sacrifices to deal with this reality. The people needed to atone for even the sins they didn’t intend. A blood sacrifice had to be made every time.

And then we turn to Romans.

Romans 10:9 gives us something so simple, it almost feels too simple:

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

That’s it? No elaborate system of offerings? No endless cycles of guilt and sacrifice? Just confess and believe?

It feels too easy—until you realize why.

The entire structure of Leviticus pointed to a greater sacrifice. Every lamb, every bull, every drop of blood spilled for the sins of the people was just a shadow of what was to come.

The final Lamb would be sacrificed once for all.

Tonight, Talacey, Sophia, and I watched The Case for Christ. Toward the end of the film, after months of research and intellectual wrestling, Lee Strobel sits across from his mentor, who says something simple:

“At some point, you have to stop running and just make a decision.”

That’s the moment.

He had pored over historical evidence. He had tried to disprove the resurrection. He had exhausted every avenue of reason. But in the end, the answer was so simple it was offensive to his pride.

Just believe.

Romans 10:9 is that moment for all of us.

We don’t have to keep striving. We don’t have to clean ourselves up first. We don’t have to figure everything out. The work is already done.

Confess. Believe. Be saved.

And while Leviticus reminds me of the weight of my sin, Romans reminds me of the freedom Christ has given me from it.

Lord, open my eyes to the sin I don’t even see. Convict me, cleanse me, and remind me that Christ has paid it all. Let me rest in that grace today. Amen.