Passage Read: Leviticus 3-6
Meditation Verse: 5:5
Thought
The Lord makes a distinction between sins committed intentionally and unintentionally. Both require confession and a sacrifice, being unaware is no excuse to overlook a sin. Examples of intentional sins come in chapter 6, and include things like theft or kidnapping, extortion or lying. There is a deliberate choice to do wrong, whether planned in advance or decided on the spur of the moment. But how do you sin unintentionally? Examples of unintentional sins are given at the beginning of this chapter, things like failing to testify when you know something or swearing thoughtlessly to do evil or good or becoming unclean without knowing it. Thinking of the ten commandments, you can't accidentally make or worship an idol or other god, but you could use the Lord's name in vain without thinking. You could possibly lose track of the days and violate the Sabbath. You could thoughtlessly dishonor your parents or accidentally kill someone, but adultery requires effort. You could catch yourself desiring something of your neighbor's. You could accidentally walk off with something small that belongs to your neighbor, or borrow something and forget to return it. It is possible to do a lot of things that are wrong by accident or unaware, but still those things need to be confessed, and doing what is required to make them right usually comes easy, since there was never the intention to do the wrong. Many intentional sins, likewise can be forgiven, but usually come with heavier penalties, up to and including death.
Application
There is still a cost to unintentional sins, so it's not like God overlooks ignorance or thoughtlessness. Rather He wants me to pay attention to His instructions for life and how I treat Him and others. He expects me to grow in self-control and an awareness of how I interact and treat others, including Him. I may not have to suffer the full consequences of my actions, but He did intended for me to pay a price, at least to act as a deterrent to future carelessness, and hopefully to spur me on to learn His ways and conform my life to His likeness. Every wrong deed should have some consequence, should have some sense of guilt that brings a desire to make things right. If not, I'll usually lack sufficient incentive to change my ways.