Tag: confession

WHAT’S YOUR EXCUSE?

On By glendarouseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Have you noticed how easily we excuse ourselves today? However, making excuses has been a go-to for humankind since the beginning of time. We even change the name of things as a cover for the reasons behind our actions, especially when we know they are sinful and offensive to God.

Some of our excuses sound like, “That’s the way I was raised”, “This is just the way I am”, “He started it”, “I was tired and having a bad day”, “Everyone else is doing it”, “The woman you put here with me gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” “It’s his fault.” “Maybe it’s even God’s fault but surely it’s not my fault!

This is a big one today, sometimes we change the name to cover our sins: It’s not gossip; it’s sharing; it’s not coveting, it’s admiring, it’s not lying; it’s explaining; it’s not homosexuality; it’s trans, LGBTQ alphabet; it’s not cheating; it’s swinging; it’s not man and woman; it’s gender based on how you feel on the inside. No matter the label you wear God love all people and welcome each one to his table of cleansing, restoration and renewal.

What excuses have you made recently to God, others, and yourself for sin? How have you renamed your sin to make it sound better?

“If we cover our sin, God will expose it. If we expose our sin, God will cover it.” The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of not coming to God for forgiveness.” God doesn’t overlook or forgive excuses, but He does offer forgiveness for sin. He patiently waits for us to confront our wrongdoing and label it for what it is: sin.

Psalm 51: 1, “O God have Mercy on Me!, O God according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”

When we:
  • Confess our sins
  • Seek repentance,
  • God removes them as far as the east is from the west.

Envision a globe in your mind – no matter how far you travel, you will never encounter the west by heading east. This illustrates the extent to which God is willing to cleanse, forgive and make us new.

(Read the previous post “Never Forget Clean Hands”)

A. Repentance frees us.

B. Honesty renews us.

C. God’s mercy cleanses us.

When there is something in your life that isn’t right, you need to get it out. Your behavior changes when you repent because you’ve changed the way you think about your choices and behaviors.

Until we stop making excuses we are not ready to be forgiven. Whether we think we are above the law, (as David apparently thought when he chose to send for the married Bathsheba) or that our action is okay if others started it (as Adam thought in the Garden) Our excuses cover us as poorly as the Adam and Eve’s fig leaves in the Garden of Eden.

(Add Psalm 51: 1-19 to your daily prayer time.) Share this commitment with those you love. Because God loves them more.

Lord, give me the courage to be honest with myself and to be honest with you. Holy Spirit, I invite you to search my heart and point out anything that offends you. I’m not going to make excuses. I’m not going to try to defend myself. I invite you to bring anything else to light that I’m not aware of and I will confess it so that you can cleanse me anew. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

NEVER FORGET, CLEAN HANDS!

On By glendarouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Just a few years ago, although it seems like yesterday, nations were thrust into an environmental COVID-19 battle that required strict cleanliness rules of engagement. Many unity-sounding slogans were circulating: “Apart We Stand Together”, “It Takes All of Us to Save Lives”, “Keep Hands Clean and disinfected” as often as possible” We cannot leave out “Social Distancing”, Do Your Part to Keep fellow Texans (or whatever state you lived in) Safe.

As a former educator, there were more healthy hand hygiene rules than we could count: Clean hands coming in upon arrival, after each break, before and after eating or drinking, and everything else done during the day. Handling books, pencils, paper, everything had to be wiped clean. Handwashing rules included: using soap and water for no less than 20 seconds and/or using 60% alcohol sanitizer.

The greatest battle we face is an ongoing spiritual battle. External cleanliness promotes physical health, but having “clean hands” before God promotes spiritual health. Washing and sanitizing spiritually involves repentance, confessing our sins, and coming clean before God to experience spiritual well-being.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, (Psalm 24:3-4)

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

Repentance is more than feeling sorry or remorse. It involves recognizing one’s sin, feeling godly sorrow, making a commitment to change and experiencing a genuine change of mind, heart, direction, and behavior.

For unbelievers, repentance is for salvation. While for believers, it is for restored fellowship and maintaining a clean life before God. God is calling the world (unbelievers and believers) to repentance, unto faith in Jesus Christ and to walk in a changed lifestyle, according to the Word of God. Because genuine belief in Christ equals genuine change in lifestyle.

Question 1: When was the last time you washed your spiritual hands by spending time in confession and repentance to God?

Confession: Is agreement with God about his viewpoint of sin. God’s viewpoint of sin, “It’s against me (God), it has devastating consequences, sin grieves me.” This is how God views your sins. Confession is much more than just telling God what you did. Does your confession of sin get to the heartfelt level?

Repentance is agreement with God that the sin was against him and a commitment to turn away, turn back and walk away from the sin. Agree with God that you have departed from his ways and fallen short of his standards.

God is not disappointed, but grieved and you will feel a lot worse when you see sin from God’s perspective. It does not mean you won’t sin again, but each time the approach must be genuine repentance, complete repentance.

Start now!

(1) Ask God to bring sins to mind you need to confess to him, today.

(2) Spend some time asking God to forgive you for those things that offended or displeased him.

(3) Thank God that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Unbelievers: Confess to God that Jesus is Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. You are saved. Now, step 1-3.

If you long for greater intimacy with God, ask him to examine your heart to see if there are any areas in which you need to come clean before him. Admit to him and to yourself, that you are in need of a spiritual bath. Be prepared like a little child, to squirm a little when he reminds you to wash behind your ears, or clean the matter from your eyes. But, oh, the joy of coming clean!