August 9

Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. — Lev 16:21 BSB

Whenever we are confronted by evil or unholy thoughts, we have the privilege of handing them over to the Holy Spirit and laying them on Jesus. Just like the sin offering in the Old Testament, they are taken outside the camp and burned to ashes.

While there may be deep suffering or long-lasting pain, there will also be a sweet sense of God’s presence and purity in our spirits, separating us from the sin being consumed. The Holy Spirit is the only one whose sword can so perfectly cut between us and sin, consuming the sin without harming our spirits.

Lord Jesus, my Sin Offering, I lay my sin and my entire self on Your cross. Burn away everything in me that is not of You, and let me live only for You.