Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Suppose you have done something or said something that is wrong and you know it. You feel burdened; the joy of life is gone. Now it's a dark and cloudy day. What do you do?
Well, first of all, welcome to the worldwide club of people who know they are sinners. Maybe you didn't know you had the capability of doing or saying what you did that is wrong. The truth is, there is no end to our capability for sin. A wise writer says that when Jesus was hanging on His cross, He realized how bad a person can become. That is why He cried out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" If our Saviour were to let go of our hand, we could fall, fall, fall. There's no end to the depth we would go. Remember, your salvation does not depend on you holding on to His hand; it depends on your believing that He is holding on to your hand. So, what do you do now?
You find a chance as soon as possible to get on your knees before the Saviour (not some earthly priest, or psychiatrist please!), and you confess your sin to Him. The whole thing; with no attempt to justify yourself or any plea bargaining. Tell Him that you are Peter sinking in the waves in the storm on Galilee, and you join him in crying out, "Lord, save me or I perish!"
Secondly, you ask Him to forgive you your sin.
Thirdly, you believe what He says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
Fourth, you believe what else He says there, "and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The true forgiveness kit comes complete with a brand-new attachment--a new hatred for the sin itself. That little gift that comes in the package is not based on fear, but heart-sorrow for wounding the Savior. It is a new evidence to you personally of a miracle. So, from now on, any doubt that He loves you personally is washed away by this new personal miracle--utterly impossible for "sinful you" unless the Holy Spirit has worked in your heart. You don't naturally hate sin; naturally, you love it; so this newly implanted hatred for the sin is personal evidence for you that Christ is risen from the dead, He's alive, and He is your High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. Yes, that is Good News.
Copyright © 2009 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Daily Bread - Readings about life and the Word of God.
