READING: Psalms 28-33, Romans 4:13-5:21
It’s just too easy to hide in our sin—at least for a little while—even when we know better. We convince ourselves our sin isn’t that bad; after all, it doesn’t hurt anybody. We’re equally convinced we can stop the sin tomorrow, so we give ourselves permission to live in it today. Meanwhile, that sin ultimately eats at our insides, causing “groaning all day long” (Psa 32:3). The Holy Spirit hammers at us, as if to say, “Don’t do this!” We wear ourselves out trying to conceal our sin, but the Spirit won’t let us rest.
Then, we finally in God’s grace bring our sin into the light, acknowledge our wrong, and seek God. The result? The words of the psalmist again tell us: “How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit!” (Psa 32:1-2). There is simply nothing like the joy we experience when we return to our Creator and stand before Him cleansed by the shed blood of His Son. That joy is undeniable and obvious, overwhelming and glorious, freeing and life-giving.
Why, then, would we not choose to confess our sin to Him? To stay in our hiddenness is foolishness, indeed.
PRAYER: “Father, show me my sin today so I hide nothing.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: Spend the day confessing any sin God brings to light in your life.
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 34-36, Romans 6