October is here!! The world of wild weather, pumpkin everything, and the most wonderful time of year is just around the corner. As we watch the world around us wind up, and down, I want to take a moment to pause and talk about our October monthly verse. It is one of the more challenging verses to write on. And definitely no one’s favorite topic, but a critical one. The memory verse for October is 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and all unrighteousness. “ Before I lose you, I want to encourage you to take a moment to sit in the discomfort. Also one key clarification before we move on. I have made plenty of poor choices and am no better than anyone. My intent is not to single out or point fingers, but to guide toward looking into what the Bible says about sin.
It is so easy to avoid the topic altogether. As parents, it is far easier to talk to our children about what is right and wrong. A child’s point of reference lives in a place where life is simple. If it’s not yours, don’t take it. Are you sharing or being greedy? If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it at all…. Visit the preschool playground and it is very clear what is right and wrong. Somewhere in the growing up process the black and white rules turn to vastly different shades of gray. The firmness of right and wrong has faded. And the idea that truth, right and wrong, and morality are now considered subjective. You do you. Follow your heart. Influencers today encouraging kids to live as radical a life as possible. Drugs, money, and fame are celebrated by music artists. Our society is struggling to function, more than any generation before. So where is the line between right or wrong? And who decides on where that line is?
For the Christian faith, those standards have been set. Not by social feelings and persuasions, but by a God who is vastly superior. A God who has been constant through the ages and has proven himself throughout different generations. For centuries and generations, the truths of the Bible have held steady.
The first part of this verse is clear on who is responsible for sin. If WE confess. It’s not if others confess. It’s not if others would just fix their issues first. The verse lays the responsibility on each individual. I got angry, inpatient, frustrated, greedy, etc. Taking responsibility takes a lot of courage in a world of blame. It’s not my fault because of X, Y, and Z. First Corinthians 5:10 tells us “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Other people’s actions are not an excuse for our behavior, thoughts, and attitudes. What excuses are we using to justify ourselves because the alternative makes us feel bad? Or because we want to live life by our own standards?
And then the good news….
God doesn’t want us to live in a world of guilt, darkness, or despair. God, in his great love for us, has given us a solution to the problem of sin. Because we cannot live a perfect life, he does the rest. He will wash the stains from our souls, so when we stand in his presence in that final hour, we will be ready. You would never go to a gala in stained, wrinkled, or warn out cloths. The same is true for our souls. We cannot stand in front of an all-powerful, knowing, and perfect God in our grubbiness. Jesus takes our sinful and pungent souls and replaces it with his love and forgives. Not because we deserve it or who we are, but because of who HE is. Only Jesus can do it because he was the only who lived a blameless and perfect life.
And the best part??? This forgiveness carries us today in our present and future lives. The burden is lifted, and healing can take place for us and our world. Living our lives according to God’s standards provides us an avenue of blessings and comfort. This is the hope for a better world for us and our children and for eternity thereafter. Without this change humanity is destined to continue in rebellion, selfishness, and hurt. 1 John 1:2-5 tells us that “this is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God”.
If you have a tug at your heart, explore it. What do you have to lose? As always if you have questions about our faith and God, please reach out to us.
Want to dig deeper? Here are some links through RightNow Media to help you find more hope and/or answers:
1 John – What Is A Christian? by Phil Vischer
1 John: A Call To Authentic Faith & Sacrificial Community
The Books of 1, 2 & 3 John by Tony Evans
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