"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." (Psalm 32:1 NIV)
Confession, today, is quite a different animal than it was years ago. I probably only hear, at the most, a dozen direct confessions a year. I hear many more than that indirectly, though. They start out with a simple conversation and all of a sudden I realize that I am hearing someone's confession. This is a good thing! When I hear them, whether they were intentional confessions in a more traditional fashion (that is, someone asking me to hear their confession) or whether the confession just happens during conversation, they receive prayer and absolution. They are reminded that their transgressions are forgiven. They are reminded that their sins are covered by the blood of Christ.
Sadly, I don't hear as many confessions today as could or should be heard. Recently, I have had a couple of people tell me that they have forgiven me. We were, in a loose sense, reconciled. But, sadly, these people never confessed their own sins. They continue to live in turmoil. The world is out to get them. They are right. Everyone else is wrong. They will most likely continue in the chaos they have created for themselves for a very long time; at least until they can recognize the sin that has come to inhabit their lives. Sadly, no repentence. No confession. No absolution.
You see, if we cannot confess our sins, then we have a bit of trouble accepting the forgiveness that God so freely has given us through the death of His Son. It's not that God will not forgive you. It's more a matter of you wanting to be forgiven. After all, if one is perfect, than you have no need of forgiveness. Jesus told the Pharisees: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:12-13 NIV)
We are all sinners. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) But, the good news is that Jesus came that our transgressions might be forgiven. Jesus came that we might be sanctified and reconciled to God our Father and to one another in the Kingdom of God. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matt 4:17)
Dear one, confess your sins, receive the forgiveness that is given to you through Body and Blood of our LORD, Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."
God's Peace - Pr. J
Confession, today, is quite a different animal than it was years ago. I probably only hear, at the most, a dozen direct confessions a year. I hear many more than that indirectly, though. They start out with a simple conversation and all of a sudden I realize that I am hearing someone's confession. This is a good thing! When I hear them, whether they were intentional confessions in a more traditional fashion (that is, someone asking me to hear their confession) or whether the confession just happens during conversation, they receive prayer and absolution. They are reminded that their transgressions are forgiven. They are reminded that their sins are covered by the blood of Christ.
Sadly, I don't hear as many confessions today as could or should be heard. Recently, I have had a couple of people tell me that they have forgiven me. We were, in a loose sense, reconciled. But, sadly, these people never confessed their own sins. They continue to live in turmoil. The world is out to get them. They are right. Everyone else is wrong. They will most likely continue in the chaos they have created for themselves for a very long time; at least until they can recognize the sin that has come to inhabit their lives. Sadly, no repentence. No confession. No absolution.
You see, if we cannot confess our sins, then we have a bit of trouble accepting the forgiveness that God so freely has given us through the death of His Son. It's not that God will not forgive you. It's more a matter of you wanting to be forgiven. After all, if one is perfect, than you have no need of forgiveness. Jesus told the Pharisees: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt 9:12-13 NIV)
We are all sinners. "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) But, the good news is that Jesus came that our transgressions might be forgiven. Jesus came that we might be sanctified and reconciled to God our Father and to one another in the Kingdom of God. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matt 4:17)
Dear one, confess your sins, receive the forgiveness that is given to you through Body and Blood of our LORD, Jesus Christ. "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered."
God's Peace - Pr. J
No comments:
Post a Comment