Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - Day 336 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Ezekiel 47,48; 1 John 1 )

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9 ESV)

In today’s verses, John is calling us to be honest with ourselves and with God. Don’t deny your sins; instead, confess them to God. This is difficult, yet necessary. It is a natural tendency for us proud human beings to deny that we have done anything wrong. Yet God’s Law rings out clearly, “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:3 ESV)

There are great emotional benefits to confessing our wrongs, our misdeeds, our sins. A child who has done something wrong is filled with a gnawing guilt until he or she tells mom or dad. Their relationship is restored. Yes, confession is good for that child.

Look at the second sentence in today’s Biblical selection. Confession is good for the soul of the child of God because God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

While it is important to be reconciled to one’s parents, it is far more crucial to be reconciled to the One who controls eternity. Because God the Father accepted His Son’s sacrificial death on the cross as payment for our sins, He now mercifully forgives us and washes all of our sins away. Confession truly is good for the soul of the believer!

Rejoice every time you hear your pastor proclaim Christ’s words over you and to you: Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

1 "Comfort, comfort ye My people,

   Speak ye peace," thus saith our God;

   "Comfort those who sit in darkness,

   Mourning 'neath their sorrows' load. 

   Speak ye to Jerusalem 

   Of the peace that waits for them;

   Tell her that her sins I cover

   And her warfare now is over."

2 Yea, her sins our God will pardon,

   Blotting out each dark misdeed;

   All that well deserved His anger

   He no more will see or heed.

   She hath suffered many a day,

   Now her griefs have passed away;

   God will change her pining sadness

   Into ever-springing gladness.

3 Hark, the herald's voice is crying

   In the desert far and near,

   Calling sinners to repentance,

   Since the Kingdom now is here.

   O that warning cry obey!

   Now prepare for God a way;

   Let the valley rise to meet Him

   And the hills bow down to greet Him.

   (“Comfort, Comfort Ye My People,” LSB #347)

Heavenly Father, thank You for promising to forgive me when I repent. Help me to resist the foolish attempt to cover up and deny my sins, so that I may know the joy of Your forgiveness and reconciliation. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Pastor David Paape