Nancy VanAlstyne

A Thought For Today: Guilty Of One Thing

When the apostle Paul was arrested and brought before Felix, the governor, he was charged as “one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,” (Acts 24:5 ESV). Paul denied those charges as false claims; however, he admitted to one thing: “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man,” (vs.14-16).

Having a clear conscience before God and others is a priceless thing. The psalmist David knew all too well the futility of hiding his sin: “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer,” (Psalm 32:3-4). As a man of faith, David still sinned, but the Holy Spirit did not allow him to keep it hidden: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin,” (v.5).

Having confessed his sin before God, David exclaimed, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit,” (vs.1-2).

Like David and the apostle Paul, we sin on a daily basis; the secret to having a clean conscience is to confess our sin as soon as we recognize it: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:8-9).

If we are found guilty, let it be of this one thing: That we follow Jesus.

For today, take pains to have a clear conscience before God and others. Humbly confess your sin as soon as you recognize it. Thank God that He freely offers forgiveness of all our sins. Praise God for the blood of Jesus Christ, which covers and cleanses the darkest of sins!

“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Robert Lowry, “Nothing But the Blood”
Public Domain

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD; though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ESV

“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 ESV

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 ESV

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A Thought For Today: I Hear You

There is something healing in being heard—really heard. It is some of the healing magic that takes place around the recovery tables of such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous and Celebrate Recovery. A cardinal rule at the tables is “No crosstalk”—meaning no interrupting while someone is sharing their story.

When we pour out the hurts of our heart to a friend, we don’t need them to come up with solutions to our problems. The three words that are a balm to our soul are: “I hear you.” Job agrees. He was a man who experienced the loss of everything that was ever dear to him; after his friends tried to fix him, he exclaimed, “Oh, that I had one to hear me!” (Job 31:35 ESV).

When a friend is sharing their problem, our natural instinct is to think of what our response will be. One of the greatest gifts we will ever give them is to just hear them out. Real listening requires that we set aside our judgements and opinions for a moment to give the person the time they need to tell their story. Listening says, “I love you, and I care about you.”

While we will never do this listening thing perfectly, we can be assured that we have One who has all the time in the world to hear our concerns. God promises in His Word: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29:12 ESV).

For today, listen—really listen—to what your friends and family are trying to tell you. Thank God that He always gives His undivided attention when we call out to Him. Praise God that He not only hears, He also cares about the concerns of our hearts!

“O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.”
Thomas O. Chisholm, “O to Be Like Thee!”
Public Domain

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 ESV

“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13 ESV

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing! Like it? Share it! Thanks!

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