Pastor John’s Blog

If you recall playing “hide and go seek” as a child you know that one of the best hiding spots was behind a tree, especially a bigger tree, because you could always move around the perimeter of the tree to avoid being detected by the person who was “it”. Adam and Eve knew this trick. After sinning by eating of the forbidden fruit they both hid behind trees as God entered the garden and called for them. But they were not hiding as part of a game. They were hiding from God out of fear and guilt. Sin makes us think that God is “it” and that we have to hide from Him. However, God has a better way of dealing with our failures. In Isaiah 1:18 He says, “Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” God calls us to stop playing the game of “hide and go seek with him” and act like mature adults. He tells us “Come now, let’s settle this…” And when we do he promises to wash us clean.

So today, if there is something that you need to make right with God come out from behind the tree and settle things with Him. You will feel so much better after God washes your scarlet sins and turns them white as snow!

Confessing Sin

Nothing weighs us down more than sin. It robs us of our joy and strains our relationship with God. This is why confessing our sin to God is so vital to our mental and spiritual health. King David, after sinning with Bathsheba, expressed his deep sorrow in Psalm 51. In the first four verses he says, ¹ “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.² Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.³ For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.⁴ Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight” (NLT).

Three things stand out in these verses. First, David approaches God knowing that God is merciful and compassionate and always ready to forgive us when we confess our sins to him. Second, David recognizes that sin brings filth to our lives. He uses words like “blot out my stain” and “wash me clean” and “purify me.” David accepted that only God can cleanse us of our sins. And lastly, David owned up to his actions. He admitted his rebellion toward God and the evil that he had done before the Lord. And the wonderful thing about this is that God heard him and forgave him.

So today, take time to approach the Lord in prayer and confess your sins to him knowing that He is merciful and compassionate. Own up to your sins and mistakes and ask Him to cleanse you of your sins. Then do one last thing. Forgive yourself and move on with God’s help!