I've been studying this week about confession and the blessings that come with it. Sometimes though our sin is something we may not recognize. We may not know we are sinning or we've repressed the knowledge of the sin so much so that we don't remember, or we need a reminder. In Psalm 139:23-24 David exemplifies a man who so desired to be clean in the sight of God that he asked God to reveal any unconfessed sin.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
David asked God to search for his sin and then to point them out! It's what some call Gods exploratory surgery on our hearts. We need that revelation sometimes because we can blind ourselves to what sin is by masking it with calling it "good". We lie to someone to spare their feelings. We omit truths because they would cause strife. We forget that even our thoughts are monitored by the Spirit. We live a life of comfort outside of Sunday morning services that keeps us from really having a full relationship with God. The sins that we perceive as small and insignificant block God from certain areas of our heart. In these verses David was desperate for God to break down those walls. He asked God to reveal the sin so that he (David) could repent of it so that he could continue in God's "way everlasting". I for one know I have sin in my life that should be weeded out and am challenging myself to seek out God's "exploratory surgery", His pruning, so that I may continue on in His way. What about you? I challenge you to do the same. Seek God and ask Him to reveal to you any unconfessed sin in your life. I guarantee that when you see His revelation, and when you confess before Him, you will feel a freedom unlike most anything you may ever feel. Because, confession is not simply telling God the things you've done wrong - confession allows us to experience God's amazing act of forgiveness and presents us clean and ready to be used by Him for His glory and purpose. Confession frees us from the bondage and guilt of sin and releases us from its power. Be free my friends!
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
David asked God to search for his sin and then to point them out! It's what some call Gods exploratory surgery on our hearts. We need that revelation sometimes because we can blind ourselves to what sin is by masking it with calling it "good". We lie to someone to spare their feelings. We omit truths because they would cause strife. We forget that even our thoughts are monitored by the Spirit. We live a life of comfort outside of Sunday morning services that keeps us from really having a full relationship with God. The sins that we perceive as small and insignificant block God from certain areas of our heart. In these verses David was desperate for God to break down those walls. He asked God to reveal the sin so that he (David) could repent of it so that he could continue in God's "way everlasting". I for one know I have sin in my life that should be weeded out and am challenging myself to seek out God's "exploratory surgery", His pruning, so that I may continue on in His way. What about you? I challenge you to do the same. Seek God and ask Him to reveal to you any unconfessed sin in your life. I guarantee that when you see His revelation, and when you confess before Him, you will feel a freedom unlike most anything you may ever feel. Because, confession is not simply telling God the things you've done wrong - confession allows us to experience God's amazing act of forgiveness and presents us clean and ready to be used by Him for His glory and purpose. Confession frees us from the bondage and guilt of sin and releases us from its power. Be free my friends!
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1 comments:
I keep hearing how Christianity is somehow a 'guilt-based' religion. Don't they know it inherently has a way to get rid of guilt? Jesus took on our sin. He called for us to repent and follow. Confessing our sin, to God and some person other than ourselves, means there is no reason to carry guilt. The Christian faith is a 'forgiveness-based' faith.
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