Day 7 - Confession Is Freedom

Author: Mark A. Moore (Auxiliary Faculty Member)

Scripture: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Reflections:

When I was in elementary school, my family replaced the carpet in the old farmhouse we lived in, and my brother and I were given the carpet scraps to play with.   We decided to cut holes in the larger pieces and wear them as over-sized, furry ponchos while we wrestled. I took a knife from the kitchen, and snuck back to cut the carpet scraps. The back of the carpet was tough and bumpy, and as I attempted to force my first slice, the knife slipped off the carpet and stuck directly into my left leg.

I quickly pulled the knife out and ran to hide in the bathroom, knowing that a knife wound was the least of my worries once my parents found out what happened. And that's where my mother found me, cowering next to the toilet with blood-soaked sweatpants. Much to my surprise, she didn't yell at me. She wiped off the blood, bandaged my leg, and held me on her lap until I stopped crying. We found out later that I had missed my femoral artery by mere inches.

Fear drove me to that bathroom: fear of being found out, fear of punishment, fear of being the bad kid. But my fear was false and almost cost me my life. We hide from God in the same way, door closed, hoping he won’t notice. We fear his wrath, his judgment. But here in 1 John we see a beautiful promise. Confession is not met with damnation, but with love and forgiveness.

This Lenten season, may we all come out of hiding and experience the freedom and forgiveness of confession. Many of us are bleeding, and outside the door a loving Father awaits.

Prayer for the Day:

Heavenly Father, we confess that we desperately need you. Thank you that you meet our failures with grace and cover our shame with love. Amen.