Daily Bread 5-3-18
1 John 1:8,9
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ref. - Ec 7:20 - For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Jas 3:2 - For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Ps 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
Pr 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
In this scripture the final reference should really strike a cord. Confessweth and forsaketh. This means that it is not only to ask forgiveness but it is to forsake the actions in which we had to confess. Many so-called Churches will not include repentance as it will make their population go down and they will not please worldly people. Others confess of the same things every week thinking that it is ok to recommit the same offenses in which they have been forgiven. they use it as a crutch to remain in sin and attached to worldly ways. Either way, if they know no better, they are not responsible for it. But if you are reading this Daily Bread, take heed, you are responsible. We have so many things to fix in our lives and so many things to leave behind as well as take on. As we grow in the gospel and learn of Christ we will realize that it is not about staying conformed to the world, but about being transformed in the Spirit. We must acknowledge our sin and repent, knowing that our Lord wil forgive us and tell us to go forth and sin no more. We could get "scripture heavy" in this but let us simplify it. If you do something and it ends up hurting one of your family you are sorry, right? You seek forgiveness hoping that they will not carry it around and hang it over your head, right? And they forgive you but the next day you go and do the same thing, hurting the same person. And you ask forgiveness again, right? Even if this person forgives you it gets harder and harder each time to trust you and your relationship never returns to the same level that it was and it surely never progresses further than what it was. If we can understand this, then why must we do it over and over again to our Lord and Savior. we claim to love him more than anyone or anything else, but we choose to hurt him over and over again. He can never trust us and certainly never move us forward into the next level in our Spiritual lives. We are stuck in a lather, rinse, repeat mode and it never ends. We go about acting like we are ok while we are intentionally being disobedient to the gospel. If it says don't drink and you do, ask forgiveness but also ask for the willpower and strength to quit. If it says don't cheat don't cheat. If it says go forth and sin no more, do everything in your power, calling on God in Jesus Christ to not sin any more. Will you sin again, who knows? But strive not to do it willfully to please your flesh and your lust for the things of this world. As we learn the gospel, let us become responsible for what it tells us and let us do all tht we can to become obedient to it. I just heard a man, once again saying how it is easy to say what a Christian should be, but harder to live it. This is the answer. As long as we will not acknowledge our shortcomings, confess our sins, and be transformed to refrain from those sins, we will still be serving the world and our sins will remain. If we are willing to be transformed and shaped and molded into what Christ wants us to be, it will be a complete blessing to serve him and be called a "Christian". THese words and this scripture will only help if you let them. Have a great day!!