Out in the Open

Confession and Repentance:

     He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
     Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble....
     If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness....
     For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin.
     Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Scripture: Proverbs 28:13-14, 1 John 1:6-9; Hebrews 4:4-16

Defining Moments:

     God is no pushover. His call to holy living is very clear, very firm, very hard to misunderstand. Let's not trick ourselves into thinking that His heart of compassion has made Him soft on sin.
     But rest in this: " He remembers that we are dust" ( Psalms 13:14). He knows where we've come from. He understands the bad habits we've molded over the years, the comfortable corners we run to when we're tired or upset or discouraged. Truth is, the anger we feel pressing down on us is more ours than His, for while we could kick ourselves for caving again, He's heartbroken that we've sold ourselves out so cheaply, that we've chosen the path of pain when He has offered us the path of peace.
    So as you catch yourself in compromise, confess your mistake. And promise ( with God's help) that you'll turn your back on this foolishness. Confession gets your sin out in front where you can deal with it. Repentance takes it out to the curb where God can haul it off with the rest of your garbage. And leave you feeling clean again.

Next Up:

     God hasn't saved you just so you could enjoy life in a better mood. He has placed you in a community of faith, where your little part can be multiplied in ministry.

Nobody expects you to be perfect. But by owning up to your mistakes, you get a whole lot closer to it.

     " Christianity is strange. It orders man to acknowledge that he is evil, even abominable. Yet it also bids him to be like God."
     -Blaise Pascal