“Admitting our wrong is the way sanctification can happen.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 28, 2024
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. Selah. Psalm 32:5
Have you noticed that from a young age, kids blame others when they behave badly?
“Billy made me do it.”
“He hit me first.”
“But he started it.”
And, have you noticed that this unfortunate habit continues into adulthood?
“I yelled because he yelled at me first.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten impatient with him, but he blocked me in traffic.”
“I got so irritated because she was so rude.”
This grave spiritual flaw of letting ourselves off the hook and justifying our own sin by blaming others started in the Garden of Eden when Adam blamed God and Eve blamed the serpent.
But good news! There is wise guidance for us in the Bible from James about who is responsible for sin.
“ . . . but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).
James is saying that sin happens when our sinful, internal desires meet external temptations. So, the sin we fall into isn’t just about what happens outside of us, but it’s about what is happening inside us. In fact, every sinful action can be traced back to an internal, sinful desire.
So rather than look outside ourselves for justification as to why we committed a particular sin, or why we behaved badly, it’s wise to look inward and to examine our heart motives instead.
Rather than say, “I yelled because he yelled at me” it’s better to admit our sinful desire.
Rather than say, “I wouldn’t have fallen into sexual sin if she hadn’t tempted me” it’s better to say, “I was tempted because there was lust in my heart.”
Additionally, admitting our wrong is the way sanctification can happen, we can become more like Jesus, and we can be set free from the sin that binds and robs from us. Without looking inward and admitting fault, we won’t be able to overcome temptations that draw us into sin. We may even continue in a cycle of repeating the same sins over and over because it’s impossible to overcome any sin when we are always blaming without considering our own heart motives. Blaming blinds us to our own responsibility in anything—and the Deceiver loves that!
To take a look at our own heart motives takes great maturity, courage, wisdom—and an understanding that God’s grace covers our sin and He is always ready to receive us when we confess our sins.
It takes great courage and spiritual maturity to be able to say, “My heart attitude was wrong about that.” “No one made me behave badly but me.” “I haven’t forgiven because my heart hasn’t been right, not because of what he did to me.” “I was drawn into sexual sin because of my own desires.”
There is great wisdom in admitting our inner vulnerabilities—and here is some glorious news: He is always ready to receive—and forgive us–when we confess our sins! What a loving and kind God we serve!
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Prayer
Lord, you are so wonderful that we don’t need to come to you filled with shame about our sins. We can come to you and confess knowing full well that we will be received with mercy and forgiveness. How I love you, Jesus. Amen.
Application
Put today’s devotional into practice.
Related Reading
Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:7; Ezekiel 36:25
Worship Resource
Surgenor Music: Forgive Me Lord
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