SOAP Devotional 2014-05-16
Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer
Scripture:
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. (1 John 1:8-10 NLT)
Observation:
No body was born perfect and if we claim we are we are just fooling ourself. However, if we admit our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to clean up our lives from all the wicked ways we lived before. If we try to say that we have never done wrong, then we are calling God a liar because he says that all have sinned. So when we say this, we are proving to others that his word means nothing to us.
Application:
Coming to a place where we are able to admit that we are sinners is essential to coming into a right relationship with God. Up until we do, we are only fooling ourselves into thinking we are ok on our own. Plus, when he acknowledge our own personal sin, we prove that we now are beginning to believe God's word. The cool thing is that salvation includes acknowledging our sin, but it yields forgiveness and God cleansing us from all wickedness. Get it? We confess sin that we actually cannot overcome on our own and not only does God forgive us, but he also empowers us and cleans up in us in what we could not do on our own.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for forgiving me of all my sins and cleaning me up. And not for when I first made you my Lord, but for the many times I have failed since then. Thanks for giving me these promises so instead of using freedom to excuse sin, I can recognize that you cleanse me and do not leave me in my sins.