Coming Clean
Scripture Reading — 1 John 1
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
Do you know any child who willingly tells his sister "I'm sorry" without a nudge and perhaps a threat from his parents? For that matter, when was the last time you said "I'm sorry" to anyone?
Apologies don't come naturally. We seldom see how we have been wrong--and even if we do, we don't like admitting it to anyone else.
That's a serious problem. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper." Our relationships with other people do not prosper if we never admit we are wrong. Our relationship with God does not prosper unless we confess and renounce our sins. The longer we hide our sins, the more miserable we become (Psalm 32:3-4).
Confession does not come naturally. But it can come supernaturally. When God's light shines on us, we are able to come clean. We stop deceiving ourselves. We stop calling God a liar.
"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other" (James 5:16). With God's help, make a list of the sins against God and others that you have not yet confessed. Then confess to God and to the people you've wronged. Come clean. As we bring our sins into the light, we experience God's mercy and forgiveness. "We have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
Do you know any child who willingly tells his sister "I'm sorry" without a nudge and perhaps a threat from his parents? For that matter, when was the last time you said "I'm sorry" to anyone? Apologies don't come naturally. We seldom see how we have been wrong--and even if we do, we don't like admitting it to anyone else. That's a serious problem. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper." Our relationships with other people do not prosper if we never admit we are wrong. Our relationship with God does not prosper unless we confess and renounce our sins. The longer we hide our sins, the more miserable we become (Psalm 32:3-4). Confession does not come naturally. But it can come supernaturally. When God's light shines on us, we are able to come clean. We stop deceiving ourselves. We stop calling God a liar. "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other" (James 5:16). With God's help, make a list of the sins against God and others that you have not yet confessed. Then confess to God and to the people you've wronged. Come clean. As we bring our sins into the light, we experience God's mercy and forgiveness. "We have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
About the author — David Feddes
Dr. David Feddes is pastor of Family of Faith Church and provost of Christian Leaders Institute, which supports mentor-based ministry training through online courses. David is also adjunct missiologist for Crossroad Bible Institute, which provides biblical distance education to more than 40,000 people in prison. Previously he served as broadcast minister for the Back to God radio program, reaching people in more than fifty countries. David earned his Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, Wendy, have nine children (one in heaven).
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