04/07/2019
Do you make excuses for your sins? Do you try to justify them in some concocted way hoping that God might have been looking the other way when you transgressed? Well, you might convince those around you, but the fact remains... their judgement of you counts for nothing. You might tell the lie long enough that you even forget the truth, but God’s memory is perfect. So now is the time to honestly face your sins, and go to your knees before God.
“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.”
Psalms 51:14 ESV
In this Psalm King David takes full responsibility for his sin... he had blood on his hands, and it was no accident. You might think that an admission such as this took courage, but in actuality it took nothing more than common sense. It took the realization that God had been right there as he committed his sin, and knew of it already.
As a parent there have been times when I knew exactly what one of my children had done, but instead of telling them I knew, I would ask them if they had any idea what had happened, or I would ask I them if they knew who might have done this. You might disagree with this strategy, but it is the same one that God used with Adam...
“But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."”
Genesis 3:9-12 ESV
In this example God asked Adam three questions that he already knew the answer to: where are you, who told you that you were naked, and have you eaten of the tree. He was allowing Adam to explain, but in the end Adam threw Eve under the bus. Have you tried this strategy with your children or others? Did they own up to their mistake/transgression, or devise an excuse? How about yourself? When it comes time for prayer, and you are feeling guilty, do you look for reasons not to go into your prayer closet? Is there something you are guilty of that you just don’t want to confess? Then, when at last you face the Lord do you tell the truth, or attempt to lie about it?
“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
1 John 3:19-20 ESV
Our God is omnipresent, and omnipotent... when we attempt to lie to Him, we are only fooling ourselves, but worse than that we are demonstrating a lack of faith, we are doubting God’s desire to forgive us as His Word says He will. No matter your sin, God not only knows of it, but He has seen it all before, and it doesn’t startle or shock Him.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 ESV
So, although you are embarrassed, remorseful, and full of contrition, go humbly, and straightway into prayer; confess your sins. In this way the guilt that has been grinding within you like so much broken glass, will cease to cut at you, and the pain of it that has been growing like leavened bread will deflate and you will become pain free once more.
“"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18 ESV
David was not a perfect man by any stretch of the imagination, but he was always contrite, and humbled himself before God... and by so doing we hear Words from God that Samuel was told to deliver to Saul regarding David, and these are words we all long to hear...
“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you."”
1 Samuel 13:14 ESV
If you wish to be a man or woman after God’s own heart then you must know the truth, and always present it to God... even when inconvenient, or shameful; after all, He already knows it Child.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for allowing me to come before you with my confessions of sin. Thank you for your Son Jesus whose sacrifice makes it possible for me to confess, and gain your forgiveness by His cleansing blood. Hear my admissions Holy Father, and feel within them the regret and remorse for my sin. Speak with me Merciful Father, Let us reason together, so that your instruction can perfect my character. Teach me by your Holy Spirit to come to you always, whether I am suffering in pain, remorse, or guilt. Pour the oil of your forgiveness over me from the cup of Christ, and lift the burden of sin from my shoulders. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of mercy and grace. Praised be your name for the righteousness you are leading me to pursue, and the glory you are gathering as you perfect me, even as Jesus Christ has instructed me to be perfect.
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 ESV
Rich Forbes