Theme: OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS
Text: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
Comment: Repentance and confession play a critical role in overcoming temptation. God says that we should confess our sins and forsake our evil ways. (1 John 1:6-10; James 5:16) According to Apostle John, denying we are sinners is calling God a liar. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” – 1 John 1:10.
Confession of sins humbles one; It requires us to think through and articulate exactly what we have done that is wrong. Even though God already knows about our sins, we should acknowledge them and ask for His forgiveness. But sometimes, pride and self- righteousness get in the way, as it is far easier to make excuses or justify our sin to ourselves and others than it is, to confess that we are wrong. At other times we sin and don’t even realize it, because we are ignorant or forgetful of the Scriptures, or we have become callous. Whatever the reason, sin that is not confessed and forsaken creates a barrier between us and God. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” – Isaiah 59:1, 2.