If We Confess

Jessica Murray in an article titled, “Man calls police to report himself for drink-driving in North Yorkshire,” When police in North Yorkshire, UK arrested a man for drunk driving, their social media post announcing the arrest revealed a surprising source of intel – the man himself. The post said, “Well, it’s not every day that this happens. A suspected drunk-driver (willingly turned) themselves in to the police.”

According to authorities, the man dialed 999 on a Monday morning, gave the call handler his location, explained that he’d had a heavy weekend, and that he was drunk behind the wheel and doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Police quickly located his vehicle, a black transit van, and after administering a breathalyzer test found that his blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit. He was swiftly arrested. A similar situation arose in the United States in March 2023, where a motorist in Lancaster, Nebraska dialed emergency responders to report that a car almost collided into him driving the wrong way on the freeway, unaware that he himself was the wrong-way driver! In both cases, officers were fortunate enough to arrest the offenders before any significant injuries occurred.

In a similar way the Bible says in 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.” That is another way of saying that when we blow it, rather than continue heading the wrong way we should immediately deal with it to prevent further spiritual damage.

It is also the means by which we maintain a healthy spiritual walk. On the other hand, we must never assume that because we have trusted Christ we are no longer plagued by the pull and effects of sin. In the previous verse, verse 8, John says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And then in the verse immediately following verse 9 he writes, “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10).

Are you struggling with spiritual lethargy? If so, it might be the by-product of unconfessed sin that has created a wedge between you and your heavenly father. Someone has called confessing our sin to God a kind of “spiritual breathing.” That is, we exhale our sin to the father, and we inhale from Him the forgiveness and refreshment of the Holy Spirit. So here are a few things to help you practice “Spiritual Breathing.”

• Ask God daily to reveal any sin that you need to deal with. Notice I said “daily”… this is a practice that should become a part of our spiritual DNA.
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• Listen carefully! The Holy Spirit will make your heart and mind aware of anything that needs attention and confession.
• Confess it and acknowledge it to God… don’t make any excuses for it. A great prayer guide for this process is David’s Psalm 51.
• Receive and walk in the forgiveness of God. Ask Him to retake the throne of your life and fill you with the Holy Spirit. David said, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

And remember, God is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your Pastor!

For God’s Glory Alone,
Pastor Ray


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