Confession, the Pathway Home

Confession has a bad rap.

It conjures up images of an old white-bearded man pointing a long bony figure at us snarling "repent!" Or the apprehension of a small child entering a small dark closet and whispering the words, "Bless me father for I have sinned." It is the dread of being exposed and seen with our hands dirtied with our most heinous deed. It is the anxious anticipation of your dad's scream, mom with the wooden spoon, or sitting in the principal's office.

That is not God's view of confession. Proverbs 28:13 tell us, Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. James 5:16 has even a better promise, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

Mercy and healing are the sweet fruit of confession.

Jesus paints an even more delightful picture in the story of the prodigal son. The son leaves home, takes his inheritance, and makes a series of reckless choices. He finds himself homeless, hungry and surrounded by swine. It is there that the scriptures tells us he came to his senses. He confesses his sin and in that turning point, he starts on his way home. The son expects punishment.

However, there is no punishment waiting for the lost son who returns to his father, only an embrace of love, tears of joy. The father summons his servants to bring the sandals, robe and ring. The servants knew immediately right where to find these precious items that would restore the wayward boy to full son-ship. Why? Because the father always had them at the ready, waiting only for the son to return to him.

There is no punishment waiting for us either when we confess. God is not waiting to give us penance, as if a few prayers or acts of contrition could erase our sin. No, Jesus paid it all, it is finished, completed, accomplished. Our restoration waits for us to receive it, if we would only come home.

At Aunt Tillie and Uncle George's beach house there was
always a celebration! 

And then there is the party because the father is ecstatic to have his son home. The father instructs the servants: Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Confession is the privilege of God's children. It is the vehicle for God's mercy, His healing, His celebration. God the Father invites us  His children to come to Him to confess, so that we can be restored.  Because that is what the Father desires, for us to come home, sit at His table, enjoy His presence.

Confession is our pathway home.

To read the entire story of the prodigal son, see Luke 15:11-32.

Grieve the Spirit

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God... (Ephesians 4:30)

What does that mean, to grieve the Spirit?

Sometimes I think God is like my mom: she dressed my brother and I up for the special party in our best clothes. She washed our faces, combed our hair, ironed our shirts and skirts, shined our shoes. When she was all done she told us to behave and not to fight or get dirty. Then she disappeared into the bathroom to get ready herself, leaving us alone.

How hard it was to be good and stay clean! How exasperated she was when she found us scraped and disheveled!

Father God is not like that. He knows the world is dirty. He brings us inside at the end of the day. He removes soiled coats and muddy shoes. He tenderly bathes us, and dresses us in clean PJs, combing knots from our hair. He gives us a hot meal and discusses our day. Yes, He is saddened by wrongs we have done, but He is not surprised. He is not unprepared. Even when He sends us out again, He does not tend to His own business and leave us alone. We are His business. He watches, He guides, He strengthens, He comforts, He confronts, He consoles, and I have even seen Him stand and block the way.

Every day we come home dirty. That is the world we live in, even in our own hearts so we cannot hide. The Spirit grieves our sin because there is a loss: a loss of relationship, opportunity, time, purity, joy, or peace, to name a few. The loss is ours, but like a father, God feels the pain of His child. Like a father, God is anguished to know that His children do not trust Him at His word and obey. All disobedience is a lack of trust in God’s wisdom and love.

Yes God is angry at some, but not us who believe. God's anger is towards scoffers who hate God and scorn His people as silly at best and deceivers at worst.

However, we are His children and He only waits for us to return home, to be cleansed, refreshed and loved. He cleanses us as we confess. He refreshes us as we talk to Him in prayer. He loves us as we worship Him as Lord.

Yes, we grieve the Holy Spirit. It is as inevitable as children playing outside become dirty. What do we do? Confess. Pray. Worship. Confession to one another breaks the power of sin. Prayer reminds us of how much God loves us. Worship reminds us of how worthy He is to trust and praise.

Let’s not stop reading in the middle of this verse that continues: …with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Another translation states: God gave you His Spirit as proof that you belong to Him and that He will keep you safe until the day He makes you free.

God seals us. He keeps us safe. He is our Father forever and will never let us go. 

Thank You Jesus for paying the entire price for every sin. We can come to You with boldness because You are always waiting for us to return. Your arms are always open and there's a warm tub waiting.

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)

Free

John 8:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, “If you continue to accept and obey My teaching, you are really My followers. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”


I love this photo because it demonstrates that freedom is sweeter when you have been enchained. Until you see the chains and feel their weight, you don't understand how wonderful freedom is.

That was the problem with many of the people Jesus met.  They did not feel the chains.  They thought they were fine already, thank you.  There was no great desire for freedom.


They answered, “We are Abraham’s descendants. And we have never been slaves. So why do You say that we will be free?”


We have never been slaves, they said.  They did not have a problem. They were not looking for anything different.  But that is why truth is so important.  That is what they did not see...

Jesus said, “The truth is, everyone who sins is a slave—a slave to sin."

That is the truth.  When we sin, we are slaves to sin.  All of us. See how He said everyone?  He was not kidding.

I can see it in my own life.  The sin I enjoy. The sin that draws me, taunts me, enslaves me. I want to be rid of it but it follows me around.  I know I should flee from it, but I do not.

What is the formula, Jesus?  What do I do? I confess, You are truth and I agree. Now what? 

So if the Son makes you free, you are really free...If God were really your Father, you would love Me.

Is that all there is?  Just loving You? Just knowing I need You? Just knowing You are truth?

I do, I do.  I believe. Remind me that is not about the list.  I am still looking for that list.  You ARE the truth. You ARE. 

In many areas, I am still not free.  Sin still binds me in its chains. Let me draw close to who You are so I can know You more. Knowing You sets me free to obey Your truth and be the woman You always intended me to be.

Free. 

the bridge people

It is hard to get Harlem out of my mind, even two days later.

One of the most memorable parts was the people who lived under the bridge, close to where the Relief Bus was set up.  They never came over to visit us, but some of the men went to visit them, specifically to pick up several bags of their garbage.

"The stench there is awful," one of the neighbors confided in me.  "The police will stop them if they try to pee there, but they won't take them off the street."  Indeed, the bridge people did not want to leave their home under the bridge.  There is a homeless shelter, a detox program and affordable housing nearby but they choose--they CHOOSE--to live under the bridge. The neighbor shook his head as if to say: this is foolishness.  And it is. 

But are we that different? 

Today at work a client asked  for a service that was not in the best interest of their community.  I started to tell him exactly what I thought, but thankfully I was more prayed up today than usual and stayed silent. Afterwards I though, "He's just like the bridge people!" He had been making a series of foolish choices and this was in line with the rest of them.

It is always so easy to point out the bridge people.  It is harder to see my own bridge.  The bridge is a place of comfort and familiarity, the place I stay in spite of the fact that I know it is not in my best interest. I think I am right and not open to what anyone else thinks.  

But because I was more prayed up than usual, I prayed the scary prayer: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24)

Translation: Lord please show me my bridge!

The day went on and tonight I went to a special praise and prayer service, based on Isaiah 6:1-10.  Isaiah had been given a vision of God, "high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple."  Upon seeing the awesomeness of God, Isaiah feared and realized his inadequacy.  His response was, "Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips..." It was a cry of confession, because now Isaiah saw the Lord and realized he should fear Him.

Confession is the response to the fear of a holy and awesome God.  In God's presence we realize He is totally perfect, too beautiful to even look at it, and we are hopelessly flawed. 

Confession is the path to restoration with God.  And also with each other.  

And I confess to you that I don't confess nearly enough!  Confession should be a part of daily prayer and I don't do it.  I am so much better than I was that I think I am done. It is such a gut wrenching feeling when I honestly see my own sin that I don't want to look to close and see it.  

Often I don't look at all.  But I need too.  How can I expect my children to when I don't?  How can I expect my husband to when I don't? The answer: I can't!!

Pastor Tim was an outstanding example as always.  Confession of his own person flaws are often part of his sermons.  Tonight after he preached about confession and asked us to write our confessions down on posters on the church walls, he was the first to grab a marker go to the wall and start writing.  

Father, confession is a tender privilege of the redeemed.  You don't want to call me out and embarrass me.  You don't intend to turn Your back to reject me.  You are not surprised at my sin, only I am! You desire to restore me to Yourself and to these others here in my house, neighborhood, office, and church whom I love.  Father help me not to point at others' bridges and feel self-righteous but to allow You to show me my own.  Help me take the time and have the courage to do this.  

Ok, I have to ask you---what is YOUR bridge?  Why are you not leaving for a better place?  It's stinky there.  Just saying.