If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins-make a clean breast of them- he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we've never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God- make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows of our ignorance of God. 1 John 8-10 MSG
I don't know where you've been. I don't know what you've done, thought, or experienced. I don't know if your sins are blatant, hidden, or subtle. But you've sinned. Right now, someone is probably upset with me and ready to click off this page because I've called you a sinner and you feel judged. But please read on.
"Sin" is an archery term. It means to miss the mark; to fail to hit the bullseye. In our culture the term sin has become a weapon to accuse, belittle, or demean another person. When in reality, God wants us to acknowledge our sin in order to make us better. You see, if you were an archer and you missed the mark, or committed a sin, you'd change the way you were shooting and try again with the goal of hitting the bullseye. Knowing you'd 'sinned' would cause you to work at becoming better.
1 John 1:9 tells us that, "If we confess our sin he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We are human. We've missed the mark and when we do, God wants to make us better. He has the process all laid out so we can be well. He will be faithful to do his part, but we must do ours as well. Here it is in a nutshell:
*Admit your sins against God and others.
*God will forgive you.
*Receive his forgiveness.
*Continue on in His word and in your relationship with him in order that he may continue to reveal your sins to you and grow you into the person he intended for you to be.
The sadness and shame of sinning comes when we fail to acknowledge it before the Lord. It is then that sin eats us alive from the inside out. Unconfessed sin leads to more sin and creates distance between us and God. But sins that are confessed with a humble heart are forgiven and forgotten in the eyes of the Lord. Freedom and peace replace sadness and shame.
Dear Lord,
Search our hearts and reveal to us the sins that we have committed against you. Bring them to our hearts and minds that we may confess them and live in your grace and forgiveness. Teach us to be quick to ask forgiveness in order to keep lines of communication open with you. Amen
1 John 1:9 tells us that, "If we confess our sin he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We are human. We've missed the mark and when we do, God wants to make us better. He has the process all laid out so we can be well. He will be faithful to do his part, but we must do ours as well. Here it is in a nutshell:
*Admit your sins against God and others.
*God will forgive you.
*Receive his forgiveness.
*Continue on in His word and in your relationship with him in order that he may continue to reveal your sins to you and grow you into the person he intended for you to be.
The sadness and shame of sinning comes when we fail to acknowledge it before the Lord. It is then that sin eats us alive from the inside out. Unconfessed sin leads to more sin and creates distance between us and God. But sins that are confessed with a humble heart are forgiven and forgotten in the eyes of the Lord. Freedom and peace replace sadness and shame.
Dear Lord,
Search our hearts and reveal to us the sins that we have committed against you. Bring them to our hearts and minds that we may confess them and live in your grace and forgiveness. Teach us to be quick to ask forgiveness in order to keep lines of communication open with you. Amen
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