1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Merry Christmas!! Christmas is one of the most festive times of the year. This year I started seeing glittery lights on houses and decorated trees in front windows as early as October, right after Halloween! Christmas songs have been playing on the radio for months already and of course I heard the one that goes like this:
He’s making a list,
He’s checking it twice,
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
The words to this song alone can convince children to be good so they do not end up on ‘the naughty list’. What about you? Are you on ‘the naughty list’? Have you sinned and believe that your sin separates you from your Father in heaven? Do you believe that what you have done in your life is so bad that God could never forgive you? Have you been saved and then walked away from God? Perhaps you have an addiction that you cannot seem to break away from?
Well, I have good news for you, in 1 John it says that if you confess your sins, God will forgive you your sins and you will no longer be separated from your heavenly Father. God does not keep a list of your naughty deeds. In fact, in Psalms 102:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions [sins] from us.” Jesus carried the burden of all those naughty deeds to the cross so that you can be redeemed. So that you can approach your heavenly Father and have a relationship with Him.
So, let’s talk about confessing your sins. This is an important step of forgiveness. When you confess your sins, you are standing in agreement that what you did was wrong. You are admitting to it. But you are also promising that you will turn away from sin and you are asking God to help you, because we all know that it is hard not to do it again. When it gets hard, and it will get hard, remember that Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to redeem us from our sins. We are so thankful there is not a naughty list that keeps us from a relationship with you. Please help us to turn away from our sins. Amen.