Sinners

Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof - Public Sinner Number One - of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off - evidence of his endless patience - to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 The Message

I always get great encouragement when reading passages like this in the Bible. Passages that remind us of God's wonderful mercy towards us. Although let's not forget that we have a responsibility to acknowledge that we are sinners and confess our sins.

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 1 John 8 AMP

When we do freely admit and confess our sins to God, look what happens ...

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action]. 1 John 1:9 AMP

In confessing our sins, and then accepting God's mercy and forgiveness, we don't have to walk around with the heaviness of condemnation, thinking that God doesn't love us anymore because we did the wrong thing. No, the truth is that we, the sinners, because of what Jesus did, continue to have direct access to the throne of grace. So....

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favour to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-time help, coming just when we need it]. Hebrews 4:16 AMP

Question for today, how are you going with confessing your sins to God, and the accepting His forgiveness? It can be tricky as sometimes we want to hold on to the guilt and hide, rather than confessing and accepting His forgiveness and drawing nearer to the throne of grace. Let's make a decision today to believe that God is a God of love who offers us true, unbroken fellowship through Jesus.

Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognise that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realise that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]. James 4:8-10 AMP