Hi everybody, happy Friday. Today is TRUE CONFESSIONS DAY. It’s another one of those “we need a day for….” And while many of them may seem frivolous, this one is certainly important.

James 5:16 clearly says, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Confession is important.

Yet one comment I read recently regarding the importance of this day troubled me. In commenting on why anyone should try this confessing of sin day, one person wrote, “we can instead relieve ourselves of shame, anxiety, fear and guilt….clearing space for a healthier mindset.”

But this misses a very crucial part of confession. You see confession has two parts. First, is to confess your wrong doing, the second is to receive absolution.

The power of confession isn’t found in the act of admitting your wrong and then happily just moving on. The true power of confession is found in the absolution – that is the hearing and receiving of forgiveness. It is what we call SALVATION, REDEMPTION, RENEWAL.

So by all means, go ahead and confess your sins to God today. In fact, confess them every day to God. But, listen to and receive the absolution of those sins from Him.

My reading is 1 John 1:8-9, “And God who is both faithful and just, promises you that when you confess your sins, He will forgive you from all of your sins, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.”

One other thing…if God is so willing to forgive and absolve you, what would possibly keep you from giving that to someone else?

Prayer
Lord God, we do confess that we are by nature sinful and we are unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, in word and deed, by the things that we have done and by the things that we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbor as ourselves, and we justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. But for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

God has given You this forgiveness in Jesus Christ. You are forgiven and set free. Go in that peace. Go in that freedom, and share that love with those that you encounter this weekend.

Prayer