Scripture
Our verse for today comes from 1 John 1:9, ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “
Background
There’s always a catch, isn’t there? You probably receive, if you’re like me, dozens of junk e-mails throughout the day. And so many of them offer week-long cruises for $199, or opportunities to earn hundreds of dollars from home for only hours a week. There are the ” final offer ” sales specials, the ” one-time only ” offers, and the ” last chance ” specials that seem to appear for the same items almost weekly. But after about nine seconds of reading the details, it becomes plainly obvious that what’s being offered is not what’s going to be delivered. There are exceptions and requirements and circumstances that affect the offer, usually to the extent that the special turns out to be worse than any similar deal you might find on your own. Now where God is concerned, His offers include a catch as well. He offers eternal life, freedom from condemnation, open fellowship with Himself, and a host of other blessings, including the cleansing from all unrighteousness.
Application
But there is a catch. We have to confess our sins to Him. The picture that comes to my mind is one where the criminal is sitting in the police station, writing out his confession on the yellow pad, admitting to the crime that he committed. But in the police station, there is no cleansing. Guilt and punishment are all that await. Even for the one who is released or put on probation, there are stipulations and requirements to avoid further punishment. But God offers complete cleansing and forgiveness, if only we will confess. There’s that catch again. It trips us up as we offer up remorse or sorrow, feeling bad about what we did and wanting to make it up to Him. But that is not what he desires. He wants us to confess what we did. We need to confess what we did. It puts us in agreement with God’s righteousness and our sinfulness. And it brings us under His mercy and grace. Feeling sorry about it only leads to consolation. He offers forgiveness and cleansing, a newness that brings with it His desires. It’s through confession, but it’s a catch that actually delivers.
Charge
As we seek Him today, tell God exactly what you have done. Admit your failings, and receive complete forgiveness and cleansing that has no catch to it.
Rich Holt / Originally Published on : BCWorldview.org
Also published on : Medium.com.
