1 John 1:5-10

1 John 1:5-10
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

  There are so many opportunities in life to try and make problems go away by ignoring them.  So few of them actually work.  That weed in your yard never gets any smaller on its own.  The crack in your windshield never shrinks.  The smell in the garbage can won't go away on its own.  And yet, so often our default response is to focus our attention elsewhere because we're unwilling to do the difficult work of moving towards a remedy, sometimes out of shame or embarrassment.  How many times have you avoided going to the doctor because it might be an awkward conversation?  I see this so often in our kids -- they don't want to say they did something because they're afraid they might get in trouble.
  When we this with sin, we thwart God's attempts to forgive us.  When we hide our sin, we refuse to allow ourselves to be washed in grace and made new in God's love.  He wants to forgive -- don't let pride keep you from confessing your sins to God.  Sin is ugly, but its power diminishes in the light of love.  Forgiveness is a free gift, and the love of God is unconditional.  Fall into grace.