A Promise for Confession
by Chy Robins
“If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Confessing sin can feel like a really uncomfortable aspect of this kingdom life.
This typically is because the nature of sin leads us to hiding. We hide from God, we hide from others. If we’re really working hard to conceal it, we’ll commit more sin to keep the first sin secret, and so begins a snowball effect. Fear, guilt and shame lead us to isolation, and we might believe it’s for protection, but like an untreated illness, unconfessed sin grows and consumes, and it ultimately kills. Fortunately, God gives his people an undeniable promise. We confess our sin then we receive forgiveness and purifying.
Our enemy would want to keep us in hiding and isolation. We might believe that the sin we struggle with is too repulsive or offensive; maybe we feel like we should be further along than dealing with certain struggles; or maybe we find it hard to admit that something socially acceptable is actually sin. AW Tozer is known to have said, “An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.” How many times have we looked at the scriptures not-so-honestly and said to ourselves, “surely God doesn’t mean that.”
I encourage us, let us spend these days letting God’s Word wash us. Allow the Holy
Spirit to reveal the parts of our hearts we have not yet seen, and ask him to purify us. As he lovingly convicts us of sin, may we turn quickly in confession and repentance. Confess to the Lord and receive his forgiveness and cleansing. Confess to a trusted brother or sister, that they may pray with and for you. No longer should we as God’s people hide in shame, but may we walk in the freedom that is available to us.
“If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Confessing sin can feel like a really uncomfortable aspect of this kingdom life.
This typically is because the nature of sin leads us to hiding. We hide from God, we hide from others. If we’re really working hard to conceal it, we’ll commit more sin to keep the first sin secret, and so begins a snowball effect. Fear, guilt and shame lead us to isolation, and we might believe it’s for protection, but like an untreated illness, unconfessed sin grows and consumes, and it ultimately kills. Fortunately, God gives his people an undeniable promise. We confess our sin then we receive forgiveness and purifying.
Our enemy would want to keep us in hiding and isolation. We might believe that the sin we struggle with is too repulsive or offensive; maybe we feel like we should be further along than dealing with certain struggles; or maybe we find it hard to admit that something socially acceptable is actually sin. AW Tozer is known to have said, “An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.” How many times have we looked at the scriptures not-so-honestly and said to ourselves, “surely God doesn’t mean that.”
I encourage us, let us spend these days letting God’s Word wash us. Allow the Holy
Spirit to reveal the parts of our hearts we have not yet seen, and ask him to purify us. As he lovingly convicts us of sin, may we turn quickly in confession and repentance. Confess to the Lord and receive his forgiveness and cleansing. Confess to a trusted brother or sister, that they may pray with and for you. No longer should we as God’s people hide in shame, but may we walk in the freedom that is available to us.
Posted in Devotionals
Posted in confession of sin, repentance, secret sins, God\\\\\\\'s forgiveness, concealing sins
Posted in confession of sin, repentance, secret sins, God\\\\\\\'s forgiveness, concealing sins