We all make mistakes – some more than others. I trip up all too often, and one more thing gets recorded in my notebook. I’m a picture person and quickly notice how thick the book of my transgressions is becoming.

Fortunately, we know that Jesus came to die as punishment for our sins. It was part of God’s loving plan for all of us. God couldn’t take it that His children weren’t close to Him. That’s why He sent Jesus to earth to die in our place.

All we have to do is to confess our sins sincerely. The Word says that God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins. However, this does not give us the green light to sin as we like and then just say a prayer for forgiveness at night.

If we do that, we cheapen the grace and forgiveness and the cross of Jesus. Then we’re just messing with it. Rather¹⁶… Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.

Isn’t it interesting to see how easily we go down on our knees and tell God how sorry we are for our sins, but when we must confess to a loved one or a friend, we hesitate?

Think carefully about this question: Are you willing to reveal to your spouse, colleague or even a friend what you are looking at on the internet on web pages that you know aren’t right? That habit you know isn’t good for you and that God disapproves of? That place where your hands wander that you actually know isn’t right, and yet you can’t stop it? It’s easy to confess things to God in the silence of your room, but in public? O no!

Maybe you disagree? Then try this one. Take one of the big things in your life where you’ve crossed the lines already. Then think of someone very close to you. Imagine yourself sharing that information with the other person.

It’s not easy, but perhaps we need to identify someone to whom we can go and unpack our wrongdoings. And no, it’s not to name and shame. Actually, it has little to do with the misconduct itself, because that has already been confessed and forgiven.

It actually helps us not to sin again. Ask the person to check in with you occasionally and make sure you haven’t tripped up again. Just having someone who knows already helps you not to go there again.

We must confess our sins, and God will forgive them. However, then we must do our best not to repeat the wrong. When we share it with a friend or confidant, God helps us through His Spirit not to repeat the mistakes.

Try it. You will see how the Spirit walks a new path with you.

Scripture
James 5:13-20

Reflection
Where have you crossed the lines?
Are you prepared to share it with someone?
With whom?

Prayer
Father, You know me inside and out. I have confessed all my sins to You, but I realise I must also share them with someone else. It’s not easy. Help me and show me who can do this with me. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.