If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.- 1 John 1:9
We are all born full of sin. Our rebellious nature covers every decision we make and everything we do. Like wet Oregon mud covers white Converse sneakers, it’s impossible to get rid of on our own.
God is absolutely perfect, in him there is no darkness at all so sin and the stench of sin is not allowed in His presence. A few years ago I had a sewage line under my house break and I had to crawl through that muck and fix and replace the pipe and then clean up the mess. If I would have walked into the house afterwards and said to my wife come and give me a hug she would have been unable to even though she loves me because the stench was so bad. And let me tell you the stench of our sins is way worse than that, but when we confess our sins, Jesus promises to forgive us. He doesn’t ridicule us or shame us; He welcomes us in and cleans us up. Through Jesus’ forgiveness, our sin is removed and our relationship with God is restored. Without the barrier of sin, we can run into the arms of a loving God where we find real, lasting joy.
Reflect:
What, if anything, keeps you from having complete joy in God and with others?
Is there anything you need to be forgiven for today? Take a few minutes today to ask Jesus for the forgiveness He promises to give.
Forgiveness is yours! What’s one step you need to take today to let go of the past and live like you have been forgiven?
