I've never been good at admitting I'm wrong. I'm much better at talking my way around (or out) of things, making excuses, and casting blame. Sometimes even lying, if I really get backed into a corner. I hate that I do that. I'm always caught off guard when someone freely admits when they've screwed up. It's actually like a breath of fresh air, and instead of thinking less of them, I find myself having a greater respect and admiration for them! But I really struggle to remember that when it's my turn to admit I'm wrong. I've been reading through the Old Testament, and found myself in the 9th chapter of Ezra today. I caught that breath of fresh air as Ezra prayed to God admitting and confessing the sins of the people of Israel. What sin? God had instructed His people not to intermarry with the people of the surrounding lands, not because they were lesser people (after all, God created them all!), but because these people didn't follow God. When you hang around people who are up to no good, it's really easy to fall into their bad behavior. God wanted the best for them. (After Jesus died and rose again for the sins of the world, both Jews and the rest of us alike were invited into God's family, and now the only "intermarriage" that's a problem is when those who love and follow Jesus marry people who don't.) Anyway, that's the context of this passage, and here are the words of Ezra: But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the LORD my God; and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day. But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. For we are slaves; yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. We all have stuff that we need to admit to; the Bible calls that "confession." When we humbly admit when we're wrong and come clean, God promises to forgive us. That's awesome. "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)
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AuthorFull time office worker, full time wife, and full time lover of Jesus. I'm kind of a Bible nerd, and I have a passion for finding ways to introduce Jesus in a practical way to everyday people doing everyday things. Archives
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