March 20, 2009

Dear [FIRSTNAME],

If the first question we ask in our weekly Life Transformation Group makes people uncomfortable, I’ve gathered that this one is a doozy:

Question 2: What’s weighing heavy on your conscience? Or what character issue is God calling you to work on?

So I’m going to talk about it in three parts. First, I’ll give the Bible passages. Next time, I’ll discuss the benefit. Then, I’m going to talk about what it is we confess and to whom we confess. So if these last two are a stumbling block for you, please stick with me, and please read what I’m saying today.

But today I’m going to focus on the need and blessing of confession.

“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19-22)

My assumption is that you know Jesus died and rose for you. I assume that you want things like righteousness, love, and peace. I assume you know you get this as a gift from God. Please do not forget this root, basic, solid foundation as you read.

Paul here compares you to a vessel, let’s say a pot. A pot can be used to serve food. Or, in Paul’s day, as a toilet. Now, if you’re happy being a toilet bowl, carrying around a load of (insert your favorite euphemism for feces here), read no further.

But let’s say you want to be a vessel that is used for love, kindness, mercy, grace, and joy (something like being a real human being and fully alive). Step one is not to put love and kindness into your bowl full of poop.

No, there’s a reason why Jesus’ first public word was “Repent” (Matthew 4:17). And why people were “confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5). And why James tells you to “confess your sins to one another” (5:16). And why keeping sin to himself caused David’s bones to waste away (Psalm 32:3).

The only way to make your vessel fit for God’s noble purposes is to dump out the poop, and cleanse it thoroughly. And this is done by confessing your sins. When you lay out your sins before God, He cleanses and forgives and purifies and makes you clean by the blood of Jesus’ death and His resurrection.

To which you say, “I confess my sins to God. In fact, I do so every Sunday morning, and more in my prayer life.” And I say, “Good. Excellent. Keep it up. But you’re missing something.”

What that “something” is, I’ll discuss next time. Please, please, please stick with me.

In Christ,
Pastor Steve

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