He that covereth his sin shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Prov. 28:13).
This is the way of mercy--confession of sin, forsaking of sin. Those who cover their sin are tempted to falsify. They are guilty of hypocrisy in concealing or justifying their sins, or even making a loud profession to compensate for them.
In confessing our sins we must be honest with the Lord. We must not only acknowledge our wrong but have a sense of its evil and deplore it. We must forsake the evil thing and all places, companions, books, radio and television broadcasts, or whatever will lead us back into sin. Some confess but do not forsake their sin. It is still in them. And remember, we are not forgiven as payment for our confession or reformation, but only through the blood and grace of Christ.
A little girl playing in the park was frightened by a great dog that came bounding along, barking furiously. She burst out crying, and her mother could not pacify her. "See," said the mother, "the dog has stopped barking. Why don't you stop crying?"
The little girl looked around at the dog and, still sobbing, said, "Yes, Mama, but the bark is still in him."
Some earnestly try to reach the City of God, but hold on to some one sin. They are like drunken sailors who, on a dark night, were returning to their ship. They got into their little boat, which was tied to the wharf, drew out the oars, and began to row. They rowed and rowed, but still their ship did not appear. At last the soberest of them discovered that they had not untied the mooring rope. God asks us not only to row but to cut loose from sin. Then, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work" (Ps. 62:12).
This is the way of mercy--confession of sin, forsaking of sin. Those who cover their sin are tempted to falsify. They are guilty of hypocrisy in concealing or justifying their sins, or even making a loud profession to compensate for them.
In confessing our sins we must be honest with the Lord. We must not only acknowledge our wrong but have a sense of its evil and deplore it. We must forsake the evil thing and all places, companions, books, radio and television broadcasts, or whatever will lead us back into sin. Some confess but do not forsake their sin. It is still in them. And remember, we are not forgiven as payment for our confession or reformation, but only through the blood and grace of Christ.
A little girl playing in the park was frightened by a great dog that came bounding along, barking furiously. She burst out crying, and her mother could not pacify her. "See," said the mother, "the dog has stopped barking. Why don't you stop crying?"
The little girl looked around at the dog and, still sobbing, said, "Yes, Mama, but the bark is still in him."
Some earnestly try to reach the City of God, but hold on to some one sin. They are like drunken sailors who, on a dark night, were returning to their ship. They got into their little boat, which was tied to the wharf, drew out the oars, and began to row. They rowed and rowed, but still their ship did not appear. At last the soberest of them discovered that they had not untied the mooring rope. God asks us not only to row but to cut loose from sin. Then, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work" (Ps. 62:12).
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