KLEZ WORM!

Leviticus 4:13-20
13 If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty. 14 When they become aware of the sin they committed, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the Tent of Meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull's head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull's blood into the Tent of Meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the Lord seven times in front of the curtain.18 He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the Tent of Meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar, 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.

If you use e-mail often, you've probably heard of the KLEZ WORM virus. I hope you've been able to avoid these nasty cyber intruders that rob system resources and destroy your files. This bug has been around for quite a while and is the most reported computer virus. Once you get a variation of the KLEZ WORM on your computer, you have to use anti-virus software to remove it.

You've probably heard of another virus that has been around much longer than KLEZ WORM--the SIN WORM virus. The SIN WORM virus can cause an entire community to err, go astray, wander, or stagger away from the purposes of God. It is the most common virus in existence today. This nasty intruder attacks the heart, and if unchecked it will destroy families, friendships, careers, opportunities, finances, futures, and--most of all--your fellowship with the Lord. It is the great interrupter of your desire and passion for God.

Read Leviticus 4:13-20 again. In the Old Testament the sin offering was God's anti-virus software for the SIN WORM virus. The purpose of the sin offering was to provide a substitute for specific unintentional sins, forgiveness of sin, and cleansing from defilement. This mandatory sin offering was a specific way for a penitent sinner and community to attain full restoration of fellowship with God.

Today we don't need bulls, goats, rams, or lambs to sacrifice to God for our sins. Jesus offered Himself to God as our substitutionary atonement, one sacrifice "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). God wants us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus through our faith in Him (Romans 10:9).

Jesus is God's anti-virus software to remove the SIN WORM. Daily confession is the way to maintain our fellowship with Him. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). --Marvin Williams

DESTINATION POINTS

* Have I placed my trust in Jesus' sacrifice to remove my sins?
* What sin tends to interrupt my desire and passion to fellowship with God?
* What sins do I need to confess to God today?

bottom line: Jesus removes sin from your heartdrive.

soul journey