Minor Cuts Destroy Lives

Scripture: Any person with a serious skin disease must wear torn clothes, leave his hair loose and unbrushed, cover his upper lip, and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as anyone has the sores, that one continues to be ritually unclean. That person must live alone; he or she must live outside the camp. Leviticus 13:45-46

Observation: When a person has a persistent skin disease, this is their life from that moment on ... they must shroud their face, dress like a vagrant, live is isolation, and continually declare themselves out loud as an outcast. In the actuality of daily life, this is a worse punishment than almost any non-capital punishment for any crime. For the 'wrong' of having damage to the skin that became infected, this person is publicly shamed forever, barely able to survive, without friends or family.

This seems so harsh, and certainly contributes to the issues the Jews would develop around the significance of their washing practices. It must have been one of life's greatest fears, to get a minor cut while working in the field or walking in open shoes along rock-filled roads, and hoping no infection set in, as would almost be normal in such conditions. A minor cut could destroy their life.

Application: This is certainly a metaphor for "minor" sins. Doing little things wrong now days - telling a white lie, looking with lust at a person, muttering God's name in vain - seem minor in daily life. However, they could be destroying our lives, creating the little weakness where greater issues can enter the body and mind, placing distance between us and God.

It is clearly impossible to live a life without ever doing those little things, which is why my faith in Jesus is so important. I know I sin. I know I create these 'minor cuts' in my life daily. And I know some of them have become infected from time to time. Because of Jesus, I don't have to have my life destroyed and live in public shame forever. I am washed by his blood.

Prayer: Lord, I do seek your forgiveness for the sins I have committed these last days. Please wash me clean, and help me to repent of patterns in my life that continue to nick my heart and soul. I desire to be spotless, and I can only do that through your grace and the sacrifice of Jesus. I claim that, as I do firmly believe in Jesus as Messiah, and my Lord and savior. Thank you for your mercy, and for not leaving me as an unclean outcast forever. Amen.