Don’t Let Mildew Take Over by Miriam

I’m reading through the Bible again this year. In the past, every time I get to Leviticus and Numbers, I’ve always struggled to see how it applies to me. Of course, the more I’ve read God’s word and studied it, I’ve come to realize the Bible is about God. The more I read His word, the deeper I come to know Him. As a result of this, the more I’ll know about myself.

As I’ve read through the first few books of the Bible, each year I learn more and more about the Holy God we serve and why He gave the instructions He did to the Israelites. So this year, as I read through Leviticus 13 where God is giving Moses and Aaron instructions for the Israelites, I came to verses 47-52 where God is telling them what to do if their clothing gets contaminated with mildew. In verses 51 and 52 it says, “On the seventh day he is to examine it, and if the mold has spread in the fabric, the woven or knitted material, or the leather, whatever its use, it is a persistent defiling mold; the article is unclean. He must burn the fabric, the woven or knitted material of wool or linen, or any leather article that has been spoiled; because the defiling mold is persistent, the article must be burned.”

As I read those words a lightbulb went off — it was like the Lord was saying to me, “Miriam, sin is like this in your life. If you don’t deal with it right away, it is persistent and will get its roots deeper in you until it ruins something.” I wrote at the top of the page in my Bible, “Sin in our life is like a destructive mildew. Deal with it immediately!”

Over the years I have prayed and asked the Lord to convict me quickly of sin and help me to confess it and not allow satan to have a foothold in my life. This passage in Leviticus was such a great reminder of why this is important. How about you? Are you allowing the “mildew” in your life to take over? Don’t give it one more “article of clothing” or one more “wall in your house.” Confess it to the Lord. Ask Him to forgive you. He will. 1 John 1:9 says, “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”