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This year our family is reading through the Bible using the M’Cheyne Bible-reading schedule, which means this week we are smack-dab in the middle of Leviticus. As you know, the book is - among other things - a handbook on sacrifices; who, what, when, how, and why. The question that has come to our minds is, did the Israelites view sin differently than we do because of those sacrifices. Knowing that a sin would cost the life of a valued animal, did it weigh on their conscience, causing them to see sin as more abhorent than we do?

Of late our family has been discussing the need to see how dreadful our personal sins are. The culture we live in has done its best to persuade us that our sins are small and God is not offended. But we, as a family, want to grieve and repent for our sins and not just feel sorrow for the consequences. There is a tendency in the church to emphasize the Good News while glossing over the bad, but when we have experienced that Romans 7 moment, when we realize how loathsome our sins are, then we will know more fully how great a Savior we worship. Like women who have undergone childbirth and remember the sweet relief, or even elation after the excruciating pain subsides, so we, when we are aware of the depth of our sins, value more highly the profoundness of His grace.

So once again we appreciate the poignant words from a prayer in Valley of Vision. After acknowledging how our every sense, our every body part may be a snare for us, the author ends the prayer like this; “Keep me ever mindful of my natural state, but let me not forget my heavenly title, or the grace that can deal with every sin.” This week, as we prepare our hearts and home for the Resurrection Day celebration, what better time to reflect on our need for the atoning work that was accomplished on the cross and the wonder of the empty tomb?