GOD'S BAR OF SOAP

1 John 1:1-9
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

After a long day working in the garden, it's time for a hot shower. The warm spray of water mixes with soapy lather and suddenly you start to sing. It's not just the great acoustics of the shower, but the joy of cleansing that triggers the musical moment.

The soul of believers in Jesus can become dirty too. Some equate confession of sin with introspection and wallowing in guilt. But the reality is that experiencing God's cleansing is a gracious gift of restoration. It's God's soap--the way He washes away the dirt of our sin and restores our fellowship with Him.

The apostle John wrote, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness"(1 John 1:9). The word John used for "confess" is the Greek word homologeo--"to say the same thing as." When we agree with God about a thought, word, or action that is displeasing to Him and repent of it, we can experience a restored relationship with Him.

The great Puritan writer Sibbes taught with insight about the way peace often accompanies spiritual cleansing.

Let us every day keep . . . [drawing] the blood of Christ over our accounts, . . .[experiencing] forgiveness of sins . . . .

This should be the daily practice of a Christian, and then he may lay himself down in peace. . . . He that sleeps with a conscience defiled is as he that sleeps among wild beasts.

Whether a person tosses and turns all night or is in a state of relaxation often depends on a clear conscience. To confess our sins to God and to make things right with those we may have harmed is to have the peace of a good conscience. To neglect our conscience will result in our being nagged by guilt.

God's gracious provision is available to you today. Will you confess your sin to the Lord and experience His cleansing? --Dennis Fisher

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I make it a practice to "agree with God" about my sins and ask for His forgiveness?
* How can I develop the habit of making things right with those I have offended?

LINKS:
Leave Room For God
http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2001/004/1.28.html

bottom line: Confession helps us stay clean spiritually.

soul journey