Let the Confession Begin! Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. The term priorities used to be referred to only in the singular form—priority. It was set your priority straight, not priorities. Today we have many priorities, and Im afraid were a lot like Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds. When asked by The New York Times what he believed in, he responded by saying, God, my family, and McDonalds hamburgers. Afterwards he added, And when I get to the office, I reverse the order. The problem is a universal one, and all humans, whether Christian or not, will be forced to deal with it. It is a problem called pride; we not only deceive others by it—we deceive ourselves. This is how it usually comes down: because of pride, you go to church on Sunday and look and act like a Christian—everyone thinks youre an upright citizen. Then, like Ray Kroc, you go to your workplace on Monday and look and act like an unbeliever—your co-workers think youre an okay guy. In reality, youre the farthest thing from either description! Confession is the road to healing, as one songwriter once said, and it is the cure to self-deception. We all would like to think that were good people, or at least better than average—certainly not as bad as the other guy! The truth is, just because were saved doesnt mean were perfect. Consider the examples God gives us in His Word: Old Testament figures were saved by their faith in the promise of the coming Messiah: Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samson, David, and many others. In the New Testament, there is one who stands out from all who followed Christ: Simon Peter. These men of God faltered in their walk of faith—floundered in the sea of sin—failed God, themselves, and others. Yet . . . all repented and regained their testimonies with God and men, and six of them are listed in the Bibles Hall of Faith chapter, Hebrews 11. Perhaps the world has to see us admit our sins and confess our wrong doings before they will be able to see their own need for confession and repentance. Christ died for sinners, and when sinners who have been saved reach out to sinners who are still lost, conversions will be the result. Some people will hate us because of our message, as Christ promised in the gospel of John, but others will come to Christ through our transparency and love. The point is simple—dont be a Pharisee. Never stop confessing your sin to God and to others, and never stop telling the world of their need for Christs love and mercy, for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) . . . and that includes you. Prayer Point: Confess your sins to God right now, and ask Him to reveal the people to whom you need to make reconciliation. Then, pray for humility to confess your wrong, knowing that God is glorified when you do. Extra Refreshment: Read Psalm 51—Davids prayer of confession after sinning greatly against the Lord. Stephen Davey
Posted on: Mon, 25 Aug 2014 20:44:10 +0000