Proverbs 28: King James Bible
Confess and forsake Sin – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twenty eight, Verse 13
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Daily Inspiration from This Verse – Confess and forsake Sin
We hear a lot about confessing our sin. Catholic folks do this by confessing them to a priest in a confessional. Anyone else (as far as I know) either confess to the Lord, or to a person that they’ve wronged. No matter whether you’re Catholic or Protestant, whatever denomination anyone belongs to, confession is a common topic to have spoken of.
But to confess and forsake sin is another matter. Confessing is the easy part as it relates to between us and the Lord. Christians know in their heart of hearts that the Lord sees all, including our sin. We just tend to forget that while being tempted to sin, and choose to want to forget that when we succumb to that temptation.
To confess and forsake sin is the exact opposite of the first action the Lord points out to us above, which is to cover sin. He said those who cover their sin shall not prosper. People who steal from places they work at eventually get caught and fired. (That was among the first examples that came to mind.)
This is true across the board, despite anyone’s personal beliefs. But for Christians, it is far worse. Christians get caught, plain and simple. We serve and are called by the name of the one who is going to be judge over the entire world, who himself has personally defined what justice is. Think on that for a moment. He’s not about to allow his kids to do wrong without being discovered and paying the consequences for whatever is being hidden.
Yes, the Lord is love and loves us greater than we’ll ever understand while we still dwell in the flesh. And yes, he is faithful to forgive and is merciful. He is all these things and even more gracious to us than what we can see, period.
But he isn’t a pushover, nor is he going to be mocked as a fool. He will not allow us to sin, then confess, then sin again, then confess again, over and over and over, while we completely neglect the whole idea of repentance. To confess and forsake the sin, not to confess and redo. Deciding that you’ll sin now and seek forgiveness later is premeditated, and is abusing the gift of forgiveness.
That said, I believe that the Lord would forgive us infinitely over the same matter if we were not thinking of his forgiveness foolishly as in the previous paragraph. I think that is true due to someone’s heart.
If they truly intend to stop particular sins, yet fall back into doing it, then come crawling back to the throne room and seeking out forgiveness and some help every time, sure, I can understand the Lord forgiving that person. Perhaps even intervening, as the person is showing their lack of strength in that area.
Something that we should never get confused, is how we are treated by the Lord after having been saved. Prior to salvation, we suffered consequences of sinning here in the flesh, but also had to answer for them and pay the penalty of that sin before the Lord. Salvation through Christ removes us from having to pay the eternal penalty for the sins we’ve committed. But not the physical consequences.
And because our enemy is on the prowl all the time, just looking for an opening to rain troubles down upon those who have been saved, Christians get caught in wickedness that much faster, and that much more severely. There is never truly a concealed sin. The sinner may not tell anyone about it, but there are those who see it.
Confess and forsake sin. Repent and sin no more. Turn from wicked ways, not even giving the appearance of evil. Get into the Word of the Lord, and come to a better understanding as to what a sin is, and what righteousness is. Ask the Lord for help, and for the Holy Ghost for guidance, and the Word will show you things that need to be forgiven and forsaken.
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 9: King James Bible
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 15: King James Bible
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15: King James Bible
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Acts 3: King James Bible
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7: King James Bible
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2 Peter 3: King James Bible
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for your forgiveness, and for the precious gift of salvation you’ve made available to all mankind through your only begotten Son Christ Jesus. Forgive us lord for thinking lightly of these things through our daily actions, and taking for granted what Jesus endured on the cross, and throughout that whole period of time, and for what reason he went through all of those things. Give us strength in areas of our lives where we are weak in forsaking sin Father. Purge us our iniquities, and help all of us who are yours better reflect your ways, and your will, while in your service. This we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Question
Have you ever been or have known someone who wouldn’t Confess and Forsake Sin, but rather sought confession to make himself feel better after having sinned?