Journal Prov 28 (all references are from the ESV unless noted otherwise; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “Whoever conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but [whomever] hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Prov 28:13-14
Observation: Human Responsibility: confession and repentance get mercy; hardening my heart to this will have bad things happen.
Analysis: A few years ago, I compiled the following to address a tendency to lord over people and especially fellow believers whom I believed needed “accountability”: Be open, honest, candid with honorable concern, merciful practice, and with fierce personal transparency.
The reason I developed this was because I found myself taking a position of “teacher” or authority over someone else and not walking alongside in an attitude of humility.
Why wasn’t I humble? I concealed my transgressions and did not confess them to my “accountability target.” In essence, I set myself up as lord.
Sounds pretty harsh, right? But I was (and am) convinced that this is factual biblically. Luke 22 says this:
“And (Jesus) said to (the Disciples), “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For [whom] is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves…” (Luke 22:25-27)
Having an attitude of transparency, even if it is to a restricted group of caring believers, is paramount to practicing humility—but it is necessary. Just being “transparent” to God alone is still not getting the humility job done; confession is absolutely necessary. Paul told Timothy: “…but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim 4:12b)
This past Sunday, Forrest nailed so many things to pay serious attention to. One thing was the practice of confession, public and otherwise. I can’t emphasize enough cultivating the practice of confession. I sin daily, I should make it a practice of confessing to someone else frequently.
It sounds like I am advocating the Catholic practice of confession. Well, not so much the bells and whistles of the Catholic church process, but maybe they got a minor portion of this precept sort of right.
May God help us get the reflex right so please Him and obtain Mercy in this part of the Gospel.
Prayer: Father, confession is acknowledging my daily sin towards You; my daily dependence upon You, and my daily need of the Cross and the Gospel in my life. Without these, where would I be? No hope, no future: I need you with every morning rise, through every sunset, and all through the night.
Have mercy on me, O Lord.
Amen.