From Amie's Desk
I confess that I really don't like confession. There. I said it. Having said it, I acknowledge God wants us to be honest with Him and deal rightly with our reality even when we sin. There is beauty not in the fact that we sin, but in the fact that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Knowing that I have been declared righteous by Christ's blood, frees me from trying to earn God's approval through my own righteous acts.
My own righteous acts are as filthy rags. On my own, apart from Christ, I am spiritually dead and repulsive to Father God. This makes me see confession with a different slant even though I may still be uncomfortable admitting my own sin and seeing myself in the truth of my own ugliness. As we acknowledge our painful realities before the One who desires to remain in deep relationship with us, we are enabled by the Spirit to recognize that He also provides us the means for healthy relationship with Him.
He did not spare His own Son on my behalf.
His love extends that far.
It's a wondrous love
It's a glorious love which promises me a glorious future that I don't deserve.
My sin puts me out of step with God, but the good news is I have a Savior.
My Savior is able to cleanse me though the healing power of His own blood.
Not only does Christ save me from my sin and myself, as He becomes Lord of my life, He shows me what to do and how to live.
Confession may never be easy, but it does become easier as we focus on the Savior and His forgiveness. If we admit our sins, He will forgive us our sins and purge us of our wrongdoing before Him. The process of coming clean may at times be difficult and humbling, but more good news teaches us that our Father opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Perhaps the more I reveal myself before Christ, the more I leave room for Him to reveal Himself and His glorious love to me. At the other side of confession, there is most likely something big to celebrate.
