Day 3

26 Jan Day 3

Scripture: 1 John 1:9 NLT  – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Observation:  When we confess our sins to God, he promises forgiveness and complete cleansing.

Application: Confession and I are pretty good friends; I am a married man, after all. But one of the most memorable “confession” moments in my life happened the year I turned sixteen. It was a spring day, and I was all set to head to the beach with a few friends. Before I headed out on that trip down Route 1, I borrowed my parents’ car to run out and grab some breakfast.

As I pulled up to the drive-thru at McDonald’s, I heard the unmistakable sound of the front fender of my parents’ van scraping against concrete — ba da ba ba ba… I’m not lovin’ it. I quickly pulled off and swung by a friend’s house who happened to live in the same neighborhood. We worked for what felt like hours, trying to buff and clean that fender back to new-car condition. I returned home with a very shiny but very scratched mini van. I parked the van, returned the keys to the kitchen table, and proceeded on my way to the shore.

A few hours later, my cell phone rang. The caller ID flashed my home phone number, and my brain flashed back to the scene from the fast food restaurant that morning. Needless to say, my parents had discovered my driving indiscretion and weren’t too pleased. In the end, I confessed to the accident, and my parents showed me grace.

Here’s the thing: my parents didn’t need me to confess to the accident in order to know that I was the culprit. Maybe they had a brief discussion, but they were quickly aware of who did it. Our Heavenly Father is omniscient, meaning he knows everything, and that knowledge extends to our sins. So, if God already knows, then why is confession so crucial?

1. It removes a barrier.

There’s no way I could have maintained a decent relationship with my parents if I had denied the accident. In a similar sense, it’s impossible to think that we can sin and not confess and then sustain the same level of relationship that God desires us to have with him.

2. It brings forgiveness. 

My parents were quick to forgive, but maybe you’ve experienced a situation where you weren’t extended grace. The good news is, our Heavenly Father is waiting and ready to forgive the moment we confess.

3. It leads to cleansing.

I tried to scrub those scratches clean, but short of a new paint job, there was nothing that I could have done to remove those marks. God promises us cleansing of our sins when we confess, meaning we are restored and those sins are erased!

God created us with tremendous abilities and potential, but one thing that he never intended was for us to carry around the burden of sin. If you are feeling weighed down by your past mistakes, take heed of God’s word — confess, embrace forgiveness, and be cleansed.

Prayer: Father, I confess my sins, and I trust your Word. You promise that if I confess my sins that you are faithful to forgive and cleanse me. God, I pray that I live in the truth of your Word, and refuse to let the burden of my mistakes weigh me down. Thank you for forgiving me.

Going Deeper: 

• Think about a time that you held onto an unconfessed sin. How did that burden impact your spiritual life?
• How did it impact your relationships, your productivity, and your health? 
• What do you need to confess to God now? 

Tom Pine /Stewardship and Giving J-Teamer

Tom has been gathering at The Journey since 2015. Once Tom connected with a J-Group and started serving on the J-Team, all of the pieces started to fall into place. This spring, Tom and his wife will be leading the God First Challenge: Continuing to Give J-Group.

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