So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter 3:14
Read Day Four – Purified | PREPARING TO MEET JESUS
Watch Anne and Rachel-Ruth share more about this fourth characteristic:
When you and I give our lives to Jesus and become part of God’s family, we are forgiven of every sin we have ever committed or will ever commit. Yet as Jesus followers, we must daily come to the Lord and confess to Him whatever sins we have committed that day so we can maintain our close relationship with Him. Sin puts distance between the Lord and us, a distance that we sometimes feel as a spiritual coldness or deadness or misery, a lack of love for Him, or prayers that aren’t answered.
My mom always taught me to keep short accounts with the Lord. God wants us to tell Him what we did, even though He already knows. He purifies us when we acknowledge our sin before Him, admit we were wrong, humbly and truthfully tell Him we are sorry for it, and stop that sinful behavior. He cleanses us of guilt and shame, leaving us washed clean on the inside. And it feels so good to be purified!
This week’s Challenge:
It’s time for an internal scrubbing! Today, spend time cleaning up. Don’t worry about what the Lord will think of your confession. He already knows about your sin, so just tell Him. He won’t blame you for it. Jesus actually shed His blood in order to cleanse you and remove the stain of guilt. The apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthians, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
So talk to the Lord about your sin, confess it, stop indulging in whatever it is at present, and ask Him to heal your memories of the past. Ask Him to wash you on the inside—then enjoy being clean! And know that on the day when He appears and you see Him face-to-face, He will make everything new, erasing even the memories of those sins!
Let’s Pray:
Holy Lord, You are high and lifted up. You live forever. Your very name is Holy. I acknowledge that I am not. I am a sinner. Yet You have promised that You will live with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive our hearts. I am so sorry for all the wrong things I have done and am currently doing. I am sorry for all the wrong things I have said. I confess to You my _________ (fill in the blank). I am willing to turn away from my sin. I choose to put effort into being found “spotless, blameless and at peace” with You when I see You face-to-face. Help me! “Let me hear joy and gladness. . . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Thank You for Your blood, which cleanses me from every sin, large and small, past and present.
For the sake of the Bridegroom,
And in His name—Jesus,
Amen.
After reading Day Four | Purified, join our discussion in the comments:
- What challenged or encouraged you? What stood out to you?
- Did you spend time in confession? Answer ‘YES’ in the comments below.
- What can we pray for you today?
[Hebrews 9:14; Psalm 32:3; Psalm 66:18; 2 Peter 3:14; Isaiah 57:15]
