Secret sin, confession, and grace have been very prevalent topics in these last few weeks for me.
During a marriage class at church, the speakers couldn't help but spend a good amount of time on secret sin, and how it not only destroys the person keeping the secret, but how it affects the spouse or significant other that they are keeping it from.
The couple leading the class pleaded with us all to share any secret we hadn't yet shared with our spouses. Even if it was something that happened to us/that we did a long time ago. Let light shine on it, process it, and get any help, if needed.
Although I feel Britt and I have a very healthy communication process, there have been times over the past 7 years where we've both struggled with something that felt embarrassing or sinful, and we knew it would be a hard thing to share with one another. We knew that those secret sins could possibly hurt the other person, but we wanted to be accountable to God and to each other, and so we shared. Tearfully, embarrassingly, timidly, we shared.
I think one of the most beautiful things that I've learned from those experiences is that, by God's grace, he's given me a husband that reflects Christ so well. Even in my sin, Britt listens, forgives, and welcomes me lovingly into his arms.
Last night, in an assignment entitled, "Practicing the Sovereignty of God", all of us training program/seminary students were asked to spend 2-3 hours alone, with no distractions, no other people around...just ourselves, a Bible, and a journal.
Stick with me here, it'll all come full circle.
I decided to read through Hebrews. We are working through Exodus for the next year in our church sermons, and Hebrews gets to look back at a lot of what was happening in Exodus.
It talks about the old and new covenants, why the tabernacle was so important, the Holy of Holies, and how Jesus parallels to it all. It was exciting, rich, and a seemingly new text for me. I don't think I've given myself time to sit and read a full book of the Bible in one sitting, but man, I was so encouraged.
Here's where it comes full circle for me...I came across Hebrews 4:12-16....
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Verse 16, ya'll!!! WITH CONFIDENCE, let us draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
May we confess our sins to Jesus, (not that he doesn't already know them! Vs. 13), but that when we do....we will find mercy and grace!
The enemy's main purpose is to destroy us. He wants to separate us and isolate us in our sin. For believers, though, we are given a high priest who is gracious, merciful, and sympathetic. He doesn't want us to feel isolated, but rather invites us to draw near.
It may be harder to confess your secret sin to a person, but if that person is a believer, they are called to be like Christ! Gracious, forgiving, merciful.
If you are the person on the receiving end of a confession, may you be quick to remember how gracious and forgiving Jesus has been to you, so that you may be that for someone else. Imitate our Savior, giving glory to God even in difficult circumstances.
So friends, may we confess where we are weak and struggle. May we know that the God who created us, cares for us so much that he gave us His Son, a sympathetic high priest. Tempted in every respect, yet without sin. May we confidently draw near to Him, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
To him Him be the glory forever. Amen.
