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DAY 33 or FEBRUARY 2.

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OFFERINGS FROM THOUGHTLESS FOLLOWERS

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Our thoughts today are rooted in Leviticus chapter 5, verses 15 and 16.

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When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally, they are to bring to the

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Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect.

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They must make restitution for what they have failed to do, and pay an additional penalty

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of a fifth of its value.

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First, the big picture surrounding these verses.

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There are two sacrifices designed specifically for thoughtless actions and words.

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First, there is a sin offering, which was to be offered for those unthinking and often

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hurtful sins we all commit when we act or speak before our brain is in gear.

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The second one, the guilt offering, was once again for sins that needed to be forgiven,

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but which could be partially rectified and therefore required positive action from the

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sinner.

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Chapter 5, verse 16, makes it very clear when a penalty payment is required from the sinner,

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as well as a sacrifice to God for their own forgiveness.

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So it wasn't simply a matter of sinning and then offering a sacrifice.

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That was insufficient.

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There had to be personal restitution wherever possible.

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Making an effort to put right or wrong was very important.

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And now our action step for today.

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Saying sorry is not enough.

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You have to mean it.

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In the book of Leviticus, God goes even further by adding the idea of restitution or compensation,

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saying sorry and being genuine plus making a contribution to the person sinned against.

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Many think that this is a modern concept today, but it's really ancient.

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It is not part of our compensation culture, which is a distortion of the original, but

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it's part of God's ancient law.

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In the words of the song, sorry can be the hardest word.

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However, paying compensation can be even harder.

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In the New Testament, Zacchaeus in Luke chapter 19 offers to pay 400% compensation, when 20%

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would have been sufficient.

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It's a sure sign of salvation when we are generous beyond the legal requirements.