Stop Judging One's Self

Scripture: If someone sins and without knowing it violates any of the Lord’s commands concerning anything prohibited, he is guilty, and he will bear his iniquity. He must bring an unblemished ram from the flock according to your assessment of its value as a guilt offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the error he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he is indeed guilty before the Lord. Leviticus 5:17-19

Observation: In the ongoing instructions about sin and guilt offerings, the Lord defines the what to do when someone sins and does not know it. This is not the sin offering, it is the guilt offering. Though he didn't even know what he did - he committed the error unintentionally - the sinner is "indeed guilty before the Lord".

This has nothing to do with the person judging themself and discovering they have sinned. It has nothing to do with any feeling of internal guilt over having done something wrong. Someone doesn't give a guilt offering when they believe they are guilty ... they give a guilt offering when they are guilty before the Lord. The Lord determines guilt, not one's own conscience.

Application: This is an interesting insight into the judgment authority of the Lord. His judgment is of course paramount, and I have been taught this lesson which I struggle with daily ... I am not to judge others ever. However, this lesson is new ... I am not the authority to judge myself. I may come to a realization of my guilt based on God's guidance. I may understand my guilt based on the words and instructions of God and Jesus and how my actions align to such teaching. However, the authority to judge me is God's alone.

There are many things I know I do wrong, and many times I know I sin. However, there are items I still carry in my heart and wonder about. I know the Lord has forgiven me entirely and completely, and even shown me that I am blameless in his eyes with regards to these old items, and yet I wonder if I could have done better ... been nicer ... acted differently. The Lord says only he can judge me, and so my own opinion and thoughts on this matter are beyond pointless ... they are wrong, as they represent me attempting to usurp the Lord's authority in my life.

I submit to the Lord's judgment. When I do something wrong, I feel guilty and desire to repent. I will no longer try to further judge myself when he has already decided the matters of my past.

Prayer: Lord, you judgment is in fact comfort for me, for I know not only do you love me, but that Jesus has absolved me through my faith in him as your son. I do submit to you entirely, my Lord and my God. Amen.