Why is confession so hard for us?  Often we will sit for days, knowing that we need to confess but unwilling to do it. At other times, we will go for years pretending that all is fine rather than take that step of confessing to another what we have done.  But sitting with unconfessed sin increases our stress, steeps us in guilt, and leads to other unhealthy behaviors.  So why is confession so hard for us?

All sin harms not only ourselves but others, not matter how “personal” or “secret” that sin is.  Maybe we fear the response of the one receiving our confession.  “I’m so sorry I hurt you,” could lead to forgiveness and the restoration or strengthening of the relationship, but it can also lead to a poisonous outburst and the end of the relationship, and we can’t know which.  And so rather than facing the possibility of attack and separation, we move on with a wounded relationship devoid of life and joy.

Or perhaps we fear what the other may ask of us as payment for our sin.  Whether that punishment is public shaming, (“You will admit to my family what you have done!”) or simply a shift in power (“Yes, I was unfair, but it was nothing compared to what you did to me!”), fear grows in the face of unknown punishments.

And so we justify our sins, or ignore them, or simply live with them, suffering the soul-eating consequences of our decision.  Until we are willing to hear once again the promises of scripture in Psalm 103…

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

When we confess our sins to God, we don’t need to fear the dissolution of our relationship with Him.  On the contrary, we know that confession restores our relationship which is broken by sin.  Our confession strengthens our relationship with God, making it stronger than it was.

When we confess our sins to God, we don’t need to fear repercussions from Him.  Sin has a cost, but He has already paid it through Jesus Christ His Son.  Our confession allows us to live in gratitude and thankfulness rather than guilt and fear.

And confessing our sins to God makes it much easier to confess our sins to one another.  This lent, spend some time in prayer, asking God to reveal the sins we commit.  And then confess them to Him.  Your faith, your relationship with God, and your contentment in life will be the stronger for it.

Walking this journey with you,
Pastor Steve

Our high school youth recently attended the annual OneLife retreat at Covenant Point.  The video that accompanied their storysharing in worship is below.  We hope you’ll enjoy it! [embedit snippet=”onelife2016video”]

Lent is a time to remember and reflect.  So we’ve asked a number of people to share their stories with us.  Today, we hear from Merileen Thorson, a member of our Deacon team…

I heard the Gospel presented many times growing up. Billy Graham Crusades on television…Youth for Christ rallies…church services…Bible camp. Growing up in a Christian home, there were many chances to hear and respond to the salvation message. It seemed if the church doors were open, we were there. And if an invitation to accept Christ was given, I was ready. It wasn’t until I was in high school that the passage in Revelation 3:20 registered for me, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I WILL come in…” Somehow I had missed that assurance.

Moving on to college years, I had opportunities to grow and learn what the decision to follow Jesus I had made so many times as a young person really meant. It did not mean there would not be challenges or difficulties, but it meant there was Someone to walk with me.

The words of the old hymn, “Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bidst me come to Thee

Oh Lamb of God I come, I come” remind me of a decision that has directed my life.

Today’s devotional comes from one of Jim Hawkinson’s blog post of 5 years ago.  

Shattered shards of clay pots, that’s all we really are.  Knowing it deep within and being reminded often – whether in dreams by night or everyday events – there is no hiding from our own brokenness as human beings.  Is that why the pervasive anxieties all around are so hard to truly face, much less absorb?  The Old Testament Nathan’s prophecy to King David (2 Samuel 12) was hardly spent on him.  It continues through the ages, coming down on us as well:  “You are the man!”

One can, of course, like so many keep doing, run and hide from it all, proudly pretending innocence.  We see it all the time in others and know it in ourselves, deep within.  Ought we not rather thank God that He persists in calling the likes of Nathan to break through our hidden nature and confront us with our sin?

What’s so amazing about grace is that the God who thus probes our depths does so not to destroy our lives but to recreate them from within.  Stay up on your own high hill and you will be brought low.  But receive him in the valleys of your life and you will be exalted.

Read the hymn by Joseph Hart (1712-1766) below – even sing it to the Beach Spring tune if you can. Allow it to illumine the darkness within you.  And let it awaken the joyous reminder that God sent His Son to make us whole.

Come, you sinners, poor and needy, bruised and broken by the fall;
Jesus ready standsto save you, full of pard’ning grace for all.
He is able, He is able, He is willing, doubt no more;
He is able, He is able, He is willing, doubt no more;

Let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream;
All that He requires of sinners is to turn and trust in Him.
He will save you, He will save you, ‘tis the Gospel’s constant theme.
He will save you, He will save you, ‘tis the Gospel’s constant theme.

Lo! Th’ incarnate God, ascended, pleads the merit of His blood;
Venture on Him, venture wholly, let no other trust intrude;
None but Jesus, none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.
None but Jesus, none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.

Lent is a time to remember and reflect.  So we’ve asked a number of people to share their stories with us.  Today, we hear from Jill Heath, a member of the LCC family…

I was blessed to be born into a Christian family and raised in the Covenant church going to Sunday School. One night at age 6, I could not fall to sleep until I asked Jesus into my heart. I got out of bed and found my mom in the living room. I told her I needed to ask Jesus into my heart. She prayed with me and my life was changed forever.