The Healing of Relationships

Wendy Will

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Matthew 3:4-6) NRSV

There at the Jordan River those who came to confess their sins were baptized into a changed life. (Matthew 3:6 from Eugene H. Peterson’s The Message)

It’s ok.
No worries.
Forget about it.

Have you ever confessed a sin, apologized for something and heard one of the responses above? Growing up in my house, I never did. All I remember hearing my parents say was, “You are forgiven.”

After talking about what I did wrong, admitting my sin, I was forgiven. Being forgiven is a BIG deal! My sin wasn’t ok or couldn’t just be forgotten. And it was a worry, a worry for me!  But forgiveness, that made my relationship with my parents right again.

All that practice of confessing my sins, then and now, has helped me realize what is really important- a relationship! A relationship with God!

Confession is an act of invitation. I want you in my life, Lord. God’s forgiveness sets me free to go and live in God’s light, to live a changed life.

 I can get carried away by freedom. Recently I found a piece of advice that is helpful. It reads:” Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you.”

May those words bless you, too.

Prayer: Gracious God, I am thankful to be your forgiven child. Create in me a clean heart that I may grow stronger in faith and love to reflect you in my thoughts, words and deeds. In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.