Truett McConnell Assignment
“1 And coming together on the Lord’s day of the Lord, break bread and give thanks, confessing beforehand your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure. 2 And everyone having a quarrel with his fellow member, do not let them gather with you until they have reconciled so that your sacrifice may not be defiled. 3 For this is what was said by the Lord: “In every place and time, offer me a pure sacrifice because I am a great king says the Lord, and my name is great among the nations.””
Confession is the act of admitting act of sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9. The Bible states that when confess our sin, we are purified. Confessing is a way to make us more holy like Jesus. Throughout the whole Old Testament, the Israelites and followers of Jesus had to make themselves holy through sacrifices to God. When Jesus died on the cross, He washed away all our sins making us holy. We must confess our sins, know what Jesus has done, and be right with your neighbor, to be holy in the presence of the Lord.
“And everyone having a quarrel with his fellow member, do not let them gather with you until they have reconciled so that your sacrifice may not be defiled,” reminds me of Matthew 5:24. It says, “Leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” The Bible also talks about how the Lord will not forgive you, if you do not forgive others. God cares deeply about our relationship with other people on Earth. God cares so much, that He would you rather stop praising Him, to go and heal relations with a fellow child of God, as Matthew 5:24 states.
Within loving others, God in the same way wants us to confess our sins to fellow believers. Jesus automatically heals our sins, but it heals our minds to talk to other believers who can hold us accountable. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” In reference to, “1 And coming together on the Lord’s day of the Lord, break bread and give thanks, confessing beforehand your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure” part of a good community is joining together in unity and breaking bread, but it’s also confessing sins to one another. Fellow believers are meant to walk beside you in sin and ease your burdens, but they are not called to carry your burdens. They are not meant to relieve guilt or burdens, that is what Jesus does for believers. Psalm 32:5 states, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
Confession for me on the field in Cambodia, looks like talking to my team and squad leaders but also my team. Firstly, they point me to the word of God and what He says about me. They are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Once they know my issue, they hold my accountable in love. This is what the Lord desires of community, confessing and growing close in a love for Him.
