Leviticus 13:47-14:32
Dear RTB’ers,
A “leprous disease in a garment” and sin-contaminated habits and practices… First, the garment – show it to the priest who shuts it up for seven days. Then on the eighth day, if the disease has spread it is unclean and shall be burned. If the disease has not spread, the garment shall be washed and set aside for another seven days. Then again on the eighth day the priest shall examine the garment. If the disease has not spread, but the mark remains, the garment is unclean and shall be burned. But if the mark has faded, the priest shall tear the diseased area from the garment. Then if the disease returns, the garment is unclean.
How might we relate that to sin? We read in James 5:16a, …confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. So first we acknowledge our sin and confess it to a priest or to one another. We pray and ask forgiveness and move on. Then over time we examine ourselves again with that priest or that brother/sister and see if that sin-habit remains or has gone away. If that sin-habit remains, we’ve got a problem and need to take more serious action. Possibly that sin-habit is still present, but has diminished, in which case more prayer and a stronger resolve is needed. Finally, if that sin-habit has gone away, we thank the Lord for His help and guidance, but we continue to monitor our behavior for a long, long time.
…confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
Blessings!