Plagues and epidemics have been part of human history since the fall of man. Of course, the latest one is COVID-19 and all of its variants. But there is a plague that is even more contagious and disfiguring, the plague of sin. Paul warned us about contagious sins. We can pick them up from others and, worse yet, we can be carriers spreading them to those around us.
Have you allowed yourself to be exposed to some contagious sins? Are you protecting your family from over-exposure to them? Or worse, could you be guilty of spreading contagious sins to others?
Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day” where I blog through the Bible in a Year. I hope you’ll join me every day. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post. And … this year you’ll find the daily “Bible in a Year” posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up. (If you already receive them, no need to sign up again.)
Today’s Readings:
Leviticus 13
Psalm 25.16-22
Proverbs 10.4-5
Mark 3.1-19
What Are Contagious Sins?
Leviticus 13:
Leprosy!
Leprosy! What could God possibly have for us in all this discussion of bright skin, white skin, scales, and scabs?
Notice that God called this leprosy an uncleanness, not a disease. It was not the same disease we refer to today as leprosy (Hansen’s Disease). It is said that Pharaoh (of Moses’ fame) was infected with it and may have died from it. So it may have been associated with the plagues that God brought on the Egyptians. Even in the New Testament, when Jesus came in contact with lepers, it says He cleansed them, not that He healed them.
Leprosy in the Bible is a type, or a picture of, sin. When God delivered the nation of Israel from Egypt, he told them:
If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you (Ex. 15.26).
God used leprosy as an immediate judgment on sin numerous times in the Bible. We know that the Israelites frequently disobeyed God’s commands by involving themselves with the pagan culture around them, so at times, it may have been a judgment on sin, either in the individual’s life or on the nation, as a whole.
When we get to the book of Numbers we will see Moses’ sister Miriam was struck with leprosy when she murmured against her brother. She was cleansed when Moses prayed for her.
Contagious Sins
What does this picture for us? As with sin, leprosy didn’t kill outright in most cases, but it greatly disfigured its victims. And like leprosy, sin is extremely contagious! Paul said:
Do not be deceived. ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’ (1 Cor. 15.33).
Not only can we catch sin from those we associate with, but we are warned not to be carriers!
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea (Mk. 9.42).
Anger, bitterness, and gossip, as well as other attitudes and behaviors, are highly contagious sins.
Sin Separates
Just as leprosy resulted in separation from the rest of the people, sin separates us from others! First and foremost, it separates us from God. In the case of unbelievers, sin separates them from the life of God here and from spending eternity with Him. If we are true believers we don’t lose our salvation, but it hinders our fellowship with Him when our hearts are clouded by sin.
There are, also, times when we are commanded to put sinners, even our brothers and sisters in Christ, outside the fellowship, where God alone will deal with them (1 Cor. 5).
Unclean
When lepers came in contact with other people they were to cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” so others would not come too close. We, too, must cry out “Unclean!” by coming to God and admitting we are sinners before we are in a position to receive Christ as our Savior. And, as we walk with Him, we are commanded to continually examine ourselves in the light of God’s word, just as the priest was to examine the person coming to him.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1.8-9).
Even when we are helping others, we are warned that we need to be careful not to fall into sin ourselves:
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted (Gal. 6.1).
Sin is truly a plague that all of us must constantly guard against by allowing our Great High Priest to examine our hearts for signs of it (Ps. 139.23-24). And when it is revealed, we must come to Him and confess it so that we can be cleansed and restored to a right relationship with Him.
You can read more about contagious sins here.
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 25.16-22:
Psalms & Prayers
I hope as we’re reading through the Psalms you’re coming to realize how real the psalmists were with God in their cries for help and deliverance. We can learn much from the prayers of these saints who have gone before us.
I’ve talked before about the value of praying the Psalms back to God. This is a powerful one to pray when you’re in distress of any kind.
Proverbs 10.4-5:
Laziness or Diligence
Here we have more comparisons between the fool and the wise. This time in the area of work where laziness is contrasted with diligence.
Mark 3.1-19:
Blinded to their Savior
What a picture here of the religious hypocrites whose hearts had become so hardened by the deceitfulness of sin that they could not even recognize their Savior! Pray for those in your life who may have reached that point!
But remember, even when we know they’re wrong, we’re to …
… avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (2 Tim. 2.23-26).
Closing Thoughts:
What has God shown you today? Are there any contagious sins in your life that need to be cleansed? Is there a leper for whom you need to pray, but perhaps from a distance? Remember, Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” We cannot bring cleanness to others if we continually allow contagious sins to reinfect us. It doesn’t mean we are to become self-righteous or proud. In fact, we need to allow our vulnerability to sin to remind us that it is only by God’s grace that we are cleansed.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about responding to those who would call us fanatics, about friendship, and about the condition of our hearts.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss them.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
1 Comment
Leave your reply.