Devotion 3
9/7/08
2 Timothy 1:3
“I thank God, whom I serve… with a clear conscience…” 2 Timothy 1:3
I don’t particularly care for love bugs. I don’t want to deny any creature the enjoyment of a good relationship during their time here on earth, but perhaps if they paid a bit more attention while flying around looking for (or participating in) their mating rituals, not quite so many would end up losing their lives (and their loves) on my windshield! During the height of the season, I’ve often had to stop during a trip and clear them off so I could safely travel on!
Our windshield and our conscience are a bit alike. It’s best if they both stay clean! Some Windex, a few paper towels, and a bit of elbow grease will usually wash up our dirty windshields, but our own scouring and scrubbing can never leave our conscience sparkling clean. And yet, Paul tells Timothy that he serves God with a clear conscience. Does this mean that Paul never sinned? No, we know he did because he tells us in Romans 7 of his own struggle with sin. This doesn’t mean Paul never sinned, it simply shows that as a Christ-follower he had found the only cleaning solution for his sin –- confession.
We can’t clear up our conscience, but we can confess our sins. And when we do, God cleans us up. When it comes to sin, God gives us the gift of guilt and the cleansing of confession. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God cleans and clears our conscience with His forgiveness. God does not forgive us because He feels sorry for us or because we’re sorry. He forgives us because of His character and because of the cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful (that’s God’s character) and just (that’s the cross) to forgive us of our sins…”
In grace God has made us His own. His plan and desire is that we joyfully live in that relationship – constantly communicating and sharing with Him. Often as we go throughout our day, the splats and splotches of sin (yes – let’s call those wrong attitudes and actions what they really are) cloud our view of God and of His path for us. Sometimes we stop and confess “just enough” to see a little bit, and we carry on our journey, hoping we’re on the right side of the road and that nothing out of our limited view needs our attention! This restricted sight keeps up from enjoying the beauty of the scenery around us, from seeing ones who could use our help along the way, or from noticing things coming toward us that can hurt us. To fully see God and the full life He has for us, we must maintain a clear conscience. We don’t need partial confession. We need complete confession.
So please, don’t let anything cloud your conscience. Trust me, you’re not going to shock God with anything you tell Him. He’s heard it all! He died for it all! He will graciously forgive it all! If you are His child, nothing you do could ever change that relationship. But your unconfessed sin will surely cloud your fellowship and keep you from enjoying the sweetness of close intimacy with Him.
So don’t travel another minute without a completely clear conscience!
Stop and confess. Receive the cleansing of forgivenss. Then carry on in His grace!
Time For A Little R&R
RECOGNIZE
What is currently clouding your conscience? Ask God to start at your head (what you’re thinking) and work down to your toes (where you’re going) to show you the splats and splotches of sin that need cleaning.
RESPOND
Just do it. Confess what you know is keeping you from closeness with your Father. And thank Him for the faithfulness of His character and the justice of the cross.
No comments:
Post a Comment