“Confession Isn’t Enough”
“Prov. 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (English Standard Version)
Sometimes I think that we Christians put too much emphasis on confessing our sins and not enough emphasis on forsaking them. Confession isn’t easy, but forsaking is much harder.
The Hebrew word in this verse that is translated “forsakes” is a strong word that is used for a man or woman divorcing their spouse, or for a person who walks away from God. Forsaking anything is a serious business. Furthermore, the form of this Hebrew verb suggests on an ongoing action flowing out of the very nature of the one performing it. Forsaking sin isn’t an action; it is a lifestyle.
How on earth do we cultivate a lifestyle of forsaking sin? I wish I knew, dear reader! I still struggle with the same sorts of things I battled when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. But while I don’t have a lot of wisdom about this, I do have some suspicions.
First, praying for discernment of our own sin is important. We are all pretty good at noticing the wrongdoing of others, but our sin (like our own body odor) is something we get used to pretty quickly.
Second, it is vital that we confess our sins. To God? Yes, of course. Even though God already knows us and our sins, we don’t always know ourselves until we confess and are willing to forsake those sins. And the Bible talks about confessing our sins to one another too. There is the need for human accountability and support if we are to live a forsaking lifestyle.
Third, falling in love is a good way to forsake something (or someone). If we fall in love with a good person or a good activity, we will find it much easier to forsake the not-so-good things in our lives. If we love God and people—and even the best version of ourselves—we will find it much easier to forsake the things that compromise that love.
Easier, but not easy. Maybe I should say, less difficult instead of easier.
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