‘Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.’ (v13) Psalm 51:13–17
When I travelled the world on missions many years ago, it was essential to pay attention to what I drank. On one trip to Nigeria, I drank some contaminated water and was sicker than I have ever been. I needed some medication which cleansed my system and restored my health.
This is what confession achieves. It washes my system, dislodges the fall out from sin and equips me in four vital ways.
First, I am empowered to reveal and communicate the ways of God in terms others can understand.
Next, I know that I’m forgiven and accepted by God. The shadow of my shame is dispersed by the light of God’s grace. Whenever I stumble into the shadows again, I confess and step into the sun’s warmth.
Third, I discover a strong desire to worship God, declaring my love and confidence in the unseen yet ever-present Lord and Master of my life: worship is one element of the Church’s prayer language.
Finally, I am humbled in recognition that God loves me, warts and all. I can do nothing to enable God to love me more. I can simply respond to a boundless acceptance and recognise that this is never about me, or us, but entirely and always about God.
RELATED SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 103:7–19; Isa. 1:15–20; 1 Tim. 1:12–19; 1 John 1.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: Look back over today’s reading and consider how you might establish this four-part rhythm in your daily routine. It is the foundation for mine.
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help to humble myself so that I can step from the shadows of my life into the warmth of Your embrace, every day. Amen.’
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Photo by Fabio Comparelli on Unsplash
