"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
A sinful pattern for much of my life was dishonesty. I was so at home with deceiving others that it was natural for me. When I learned how much God valued honest confession of sins, I was terrified. Sure, I could come clean with Him about all my evil thoughts, feelings, and actions. But I couldn’t imagine He would love me, much less forgive me then.
Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who helped me understand important things about God and Jesus. Through Jesus I was free to be honest with God about my sins (He knew them all anyway!). Because of what Jesus had done on my behalf, I could be confident that God would forgive me. A relationship built on trust and honesty was new for me, but as I practiced bringing all my failures to Him, I experienced the fellowship that God offers me through faith in Jesus.
The words of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” reached down to my heart of hearts: “My sin, not in part, but the whole,/ is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;/ praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (Horatio Spafford, 1873)
Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who helped me understand important things about God and Jesus. Through Jesus I was free to be honest with God about my sins (He knew them all anyway!). Because of what Jesus had done on my behalf, I could be confident that God would forgive me. A relationship built on trust and honesty was new for me, but as I practiced bringing all my failures to Him, I experienced the fellowship that God offers me through faith in Jesus.
The words of the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” reached down to my heart of hearts: “My sin, not in part, but the whole,/ is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;/ praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (Horatio Spafford, 1873)
Scripture Focus
1 John 1:5-10
Insight
Lord, I struggle to bring all my messiness to You in confession. Please grant forgiveness so that I may know the sweet fellowship You say is mine in Christ. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Leviticus 23-24
- Psalm 58
- Luke 22