Proverbs 28:13(NCV) “If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.”
Have you ever done something you knew probably wasn’t right but you did it anyway? I know I sure have. When I accepted Christ as my Savior, there were many sins I needed to confess. Those “things” I’d been doing while living by the world’s standard needed to go if I wanted to follow Christ. I asked for forgiveness and because of the shed blood of Jesus, I was forgiven in that very moment. God sees me now as if I’d never committed the sin. Praise God for his mercy!
But what about the sin I didn’t confess? While I had asked Christ to come into my heart, change my life and forgive my sin, I didn’t allow myself to confess everything. Some of you may be asking “Why would you do that?” I know I have asked myself the same exact question. Working through these things, I’ve learned that I allowed my pride and my own agenda to keep me from confessing “pet or hidden sin.” I overlooked the sin and rationalized “There is no way ‘this tiny little thing’ is wrong.” There were even a few times when I confessed my sin and said with my mouth “I’m turning the other way and will never do this again,” yet in my heart I knew I’d be doing the same thing again.
In the eyes of God there is no “rationalizing” anything…sin is sin; and unconfessed sin will prevent us from having the abundant life Christ promises. When we try and “rationalize” something what are we really doing any way? We are telling ourselves RATIONAL LIES. Solomon clearly tells us in verse 13 of Proverbs 28 that “if we confess our sin and reject (or turn away) them, then we will receive mercy.”
Jesus knew his delay had a specific purpose, look how he responds. “Your brother will rise again.” (v23) Martha thought Jesus was talking about rising again on resurrection day. But Jesus continued “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” Jesus asks the question “Martha, do you believe this?”
When I started attending the church I go to now, I was blown away by the genuineness of the friends I have found there. Since giving my life to Christ, I have found friends that actually care about the direction of my feet. They challenge me to look at the path I am on and where it will lead. Believe me, we have had several heated discussions, some that would have most people throwing their hands up and saying “I don’t need this!” But these are the discussions that have grown and shaped me the most. My friends in Christ have challenged me to grow in my relationship with Christ and have held me accountable.
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