God is Faithful, Always
If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9)
I once attended
a church where some of the people there believed, because they were saved, they
no longer committed any sin. They were totally deceived because this passage
wasn’t written to unbelievers. I know that I’m a sinner, even though I’m saved,
still in need of a savior. I cannot look down my nose at the unsaved and their
sins because I have my own sins I need forgiveness for.
God’s
never-ending love for me is totally undeserved. I can do nothing to earn his
love and forgiveness. Even though he already knows what I’ve done, nothing is
secret to him, he still wants me to confess to him. I don’t need to go through
a mediator. I don’t have to tell anyone but God. He will always be faithful to
forgive me.
In the justice
of God’s economy once I’ve confessed, it’s as though the sin never happened.
It’s totally forgotten by him. There’s an old saying, ‘confession is good for
the soul.’ When I admit to the Lord that I am, once again, in need of his
forgiveness, I am made righteous once more. The definition of righteous is,
‘characterized by uprightness or morality.’ It does not mean that I am without
sin. It means I am justified by being washed in the blood of Christ. It’s his
righteousness that covers my sins.
We should never miss the opportunity to unburden
ourselves from the weight of our sins. No sin is too insignificant or too
horrendous that God will not forgive us. Don’t wait for some kind of special
occasion or ritual observance to confess. It can be as simple telling a friend
you’re sorry for some infraction. Sometimes, a friend will not forgive us, but
God is our best friend and he will always forgive us.
Hallelujah! Give praise, servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be blessed both now and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised.
(Psalm 113:1-3)
Father God, you are the most wonderful and kind being in the universe. You have the power to destroy and yet you created all things. There is nothing anyone can say about you that will diminish the splendor of who you are. We exalt you above all others, there are no other gods besides you. Even though we know all that, sometimes we still fail you. It’s not because we want to displease you or that we don’t love you anymore. It’s because we are fallen human beings in constant need of forgiveness. You are always faithful to forgive us when we humble ourselves and confess. Therefore, Lord, we will praise you from the rising of the sun to the moment it sets below the horizon. We will praise you day and night because you have saved us from the darkness of our sins and have put us on a righteous path. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
Thank you, Stephani
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