Hennie Symington

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent… the punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you are to forgive and comfort him … 2 Corinthians 2:5-7a

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our lives could be in complete step with God’s will? When we confess our sins, we are in actual fact weighing up our lives in the light of God’s standards. Sadly, none of us pass the test. Yet, there is always a turning back when it comes to God.

So what are we to do? Imagine laying your bundle of sins on the scale and watching the needle notching upward – a scary experience for most of us. Then, as you’re watching, a strange thing happens. Your side of the scale becomes lighter and the other side becomes heavier. On the one side lies your sin, and on the other side God’s forgiveness. And suddenly your load becomes as light as a feather. As God’s grace tips the scales.

We might ask: why bother confessing? We confess because sin bedevils our relationship with God and our neighbour. So try at least to keep your side clear in gratitude to God. If you need a change in attitude to overcome sin, then change. If you should avoid certain situations to stay clear of sin, then do so. If your tongue gets you into trouble, then wear a mouth guard. You’d be surprised at how much less trouble you have to face because you’ve put yourself right with God.

Prayer: Oh Lord, you know how hard it is for us to stay clear of trouble. We dream of a life where we needn’t be constantly reminded of our sin. Thank you Lord, that we are free, because you put your life on the scale for us. Amen