Psalm 19:12-13a
12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!
Each time I sit at the Lord’s table I make it a point to have a time of personal prayer and reflection. I invite Jesus into the mess I've made. The comforting words of Psalm 19 show me how important it is to be clean before the Lord. Personal introspection of the heart is necessary and vital when we are entering into the presence of the Lord.
You know what else is? Honesty.
When we live through an entire week there are likely many times when we will fall short in our walk with Jesus. Our words, our actions, and definitely our thoughts grieve the Lord. We move on with our lives and don’t give these things a second thought, but our sin against God hangs above us like an unseen cloud. When we pull up a seat to the Lord’s table and commune with Jesus, we have the perfect opportunity to pray, “Declare me innocent from hidden faults.”
I have noticed that when I repent and ask forgiveness before receiving the communion elements at the Lord’s table, the Holy Spirit begins to do a cleansing work in my heart. I remember multiple offenses against the Lord from that week that I had already forgotten, and I lay them at the foot of the cross.
I don't feel scolded or condemned. Instead I feel humbled and thankful God's mercy and grace. In His teaching I am growing and maturing in my relationship with Him, which keeps me from returning to the same sin over and over.
Sin, whether we are aware of it or not, has the ability to take dominion over our lives when we let it run unchecked. My friend, don’t let this happen to you. Nail your sins to the cross and find forgiveness. There are sins you know of and sins you don’t. Go pick up the hammer and nails and have an important conversation with Jesus.
You'll find forgiveness there.
P.S. On a small road outside of my hometown there is a house with a simple Christmas decoration. It is a manger with a light shining on it. About 10 feet behind the manger is a cross, and if you drive by at just the right time in the evening the light from the manger will cast a shadow onto the cross. It is the perfect representation of what Jesus was born to do. "God became flesh and dwelt among us" so that He could give His life as a ransom for many.
Heavenly Father, forgive me of the sins I know of and the sins that I don’t know of. I want to be clean before you. In Jesus. Amen
Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, TN.
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