Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of the summer.
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
…Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. (Psalm 31:1-3,6, ESV)
I know this is a longer passage, but I wanted to share it with you, for this is a great reminder to each of us at any time, on any day, wherever you are. The truths contained in this passage encourage you, remind you of who you are in Christ, and spur you on to good works. They did this for me.
Several weeks ago, I had to confess sin to a brother in Christ. I knew this was a safe friend, who would not condemn nor belittle me. He is part of my mask-free community that I am privileged to be a part of. We allow sinners saved by grace to come together in genuine, honest, and vulnerable conversation. Still, it was a tough confession, as it brought some embarrassment and discomfort.
But what happened after I confessed and asked for his forgiveness? He loved me just as I am, and it didn’t surprise him when I confessed. Why? Because he understands his own sin and his own need of a Savior. You see, in order for Proverbs 27:17—“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”—to come true, we must get down in the dirty of dirties with one another.
Ultimately, this confession led to an even better relationship with my friend and to eventual rejoicing. Yes, it was hard and messy. My tendency is to go into isolation and try to hide my sin from others. But in addition to restoring intimacy between my friend and me, this confession led me back to believing and trusting that I am a beloved son of God, one with true righteousness bestowed on me by Christ himself.
And what about God? Does he accept such a confession? Absolutely! Coming clean leads to a deeper, more loving relationship between Christ and me. And as with my friend, it wasn’t a surprise or shock to God when I fell. He sent his Son to earth to live a perfect life and die a death worthy enough to save a sinner like me. He loves me the same as he did when he knit me together before I was born. His love, his forgiveness, his grace—these are beautiful things. Rejoice in them today, brothers and sisters!
—
Rosson Anderson
March 3, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.