“Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” Proverbs 14: 9-10
A young girl visiting our home with her mother was getting bored so my wife led her to our billiard table and gave her free range to knock the balls around. She was thrilled. Sometime later her mother noticed that she kept touching the end of the cue, and mum asked her to stop. She removed her hand and declared, “I’m not touching it!” Again mum caught her, and requested her to stop, and again she boldly claimed “I’m not touching it!”
My wife winked at the 10-year-old and said, “Do you know what’s on the tip of that stick? Blue chalk. If you are not touching it, then your hand should be clean.” The youngster opened her hand to reveal a Smurf-blue palm. She froze, and made no comment. And never did.
Putting oily hands on cue tips is a small transgression; the larger problem was the girl’s stubbornness to admit her fault. Even when caught blue-handed she refused to make amends for disobeying her mum.
Have you met people who refuse to deal with sin in their life, who cross their arms and huff “I’ve done nothing wrong!”? Our pride makes it particularly hard to admit and confess our sin.
And yet consider God’s great love for us, prideful as we are. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s show of goodwill in providing Christ as a sacrifice for our sin is a wonderful gift. The humble person will admit their sin and accept Christ’s gift. A foolish person will continue on with crossed arms believing they don’t need forgiveness.
God’s sacrificial love is here for the taking. Have you confessed your sin and welcomed his forgiveness?
Dear God, my hands are blue with guilt for things I know displease you. Forgive me, and help me live responsibly in the joy of your forgiveness. Amen.
Thought: Confessing to friends or family kicks in accountability to stay clear of future sin. Open up with someone close to you about sin in your life.
As we experience God’s love, it spills to people around us.
Read ‘The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God’s Love Through You‘ by Jerry Bridges
By Dr. Bill Strom
Used by Permission
Further Reading
• Pressing the Reset Button on your Life