"I Have Sinned" (Humility)

 If someone listed out all your mistakes and sins and stuck the list up in your church foyer or the office break room, what would you do?  How would you feel?  Could you admit that they were true?

It certainly would NOT be easy to do so.  We'd likely feel deep embarassment and shame at many of them.  However, did you know that admitting to our mistakes (& even sins) is considered a characteristic of humility?

The Bible tells us that,

"If we confess and forsake them we will have God's mercy and even find healing"       (see Proverbs 28:13 & James 5:16).

Adam and Eve and the prodigal son are great illustraions of this.  Adam and Eve sinned but didn't want to admit to it.  In fact, they pushed the blame to others.  Adam pointed to Eve, and Eve pointed to the serpent, "She made me do it."  And from Eve, "The serpent made me do it."    God did punish them with consequencies even though they didn't verbally own up to their sin (see Genesis 3:12-19).  They knew they were quilty, which we can see by their actions, and they knew God knew and God knew that they knew.

In the New Testatment we come across another scenario.  Once the prodigal son came to his senses he went back to his father and said,

 "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you ...."  

He had repented of his sins and confessed them.  He definitely admitted his wrongs.  In the end his father blessed him with honor and life in the family.  He had done what was good and what the Lord requires (see Luke 15:17-21).

We can think on these and examine ourselves.  If we are to be humble and obedient servants of the Lord, following His footsteps, we will stop our various bad habits of say, gossiping, being critical of others, speaking sharp words, bullying and backstabbing and more.  We will admit our mistakes as well as our sins, to ourselves and the other appropriate ones connected to the respective episodes.  

We will realize that our sins are against God first and foremost and then against those we have sinned against, as did the prodigal son.  Our hearts are deceitful so we need to seek the Lord and the Holy Spirit's intervention to see these and to repent and admit.  The Lord will forgive (see 1 John 1:9).  His love, mercy and grace never fail, nor does His forgiveness.

Making it right with other people hurt or harmed by us will also require our humility to approach them but it is part of our Christian living we must do.  Do you feel the burn in your heart over this?  Allow your mind tp course through the years and pinpoint any episodes that have not had any or full closure.  

Emotional and spiritual heartburn (conviction) will need addressing.  For these we need to discern the Lord's guidance for approach, attitude and words to wisely speak.  I think even to create the opportunity for our importunity.

Lord Jesus, I seek Your cleasing blood of forgiveness and mercy for the mistake and sins I've done, especially in regards to __________.  I admit to and repent of this.  Help me now to rectify this with _________.  Thank You.  Amen.

                                                    ~ ERC  December 2025 ~

Based on Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16, and 1 John 1:9.

Sing, Come, Jesus Come, along with CeCe Winans and Lord, I Need Your Help, along with Upper Room.