Quit Hiding

Proverbs 28:13

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy"

 

 

The very first Thesis for Martin Luther's 95 thesis is, "When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance".  After a few hundred years, nothing has changed.

 

Sin is destructive.

 

Not always immediately, but always deadly.

 

The challenge as a Christian is to live a life in the tension of the truth of New Life and the practical weight of current brokenness.  The "All Ready/Not Yet" nature of Christ's kingdom is a reminder to us that though our hope is secure, our journey is just beginning.

 

To be a disciple of Christ is rooted in the daily process of picking up ones cross and coming to the mount.  How often we refuse to confront that which burdens us and pick up the yoke of Christ. 

 

You will carry something.  Either your own sins that weigh you down to the grave, or, the Cross that Christ has given you.

 

Have you ever finally come "clean" about something?  It was difficult, but, I bet it was amazingly freeing at the same time.  Not that the simple act of coming clean suddenly makes it all better, but now you finally have a way forward. 

 

Hope is lost when we become consumed by our secrets and controlled by our sins.  The life of a Christian should be marked by repentance and confession.  To avoid it is like never changing the oil in your car.  You can keep going past the recommended dates for changing it, but every mile and month and year that goes by your car starts to work less and less optimally.  Long enough without new and fresh oil and the whole engine will break down on you. 

 

Are you heading for a breakdown?

 

Steps to confession and repentance:

1.  Be honest with yourself, what are those things that you are too afraid to deal with and be honest about? 

2.  Who is a mature Christian in your life who you trust to speak words of grace and encouragement to you?  Not just someone who will listen, but one who will lovingly walk with you through healing and change.  Talk to them!

3.  Rinse and repeat for the rest of your life!

 

You are made for so much more than you are experiencing now.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made and God has great plans for you, plans to prosper you and give you a future.  Get out the old oil and start living in freedom.

 

 

 

Make sure you actually get help from someone who

knows what they are doing!