Confess and Return

Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. (Hosea 14:2, 4)

Many forget just how far they have fallen away from what God intended. All have fallen and are somewhere 'short' of where they should be, but when we bring our confessions to God, fully devoting our hearts to him, we will find he heals us of all our faithlessness. His love indeed knows no bounds - especially when it comes to restoring a repentant heart and a hungry soul.

Look at what the Israelites say: "Forgive ALL our sins and GRACIOUSLY receive us..." The truth is that sin finds an inroad, making its way into our hearts and minds, until one day we don't even realize just how far we have fallen. At whatever point God's grace finally taps into our heart and begins to soften it to his grace, that is the point of repentance - the point of our return. 

Confess and return. Two very 'actionable' steps. Confess our sins. Turn away from what we have been pursuing with such vigor. Make our way back into his presence through the path clearly created by his grace. The promise is that he will heal us. Many don't even recognize just how wounded and scarred they have become by the sin they have pursued all those years. Yet, in his grace, he makes a way for all the wounds to be bound up, the healing to occur.

Faithlessness toward God, but faithfulness toward all things selfish and sinful had been the norm. When we return to God through his grace, faithfulness toward all things Christ-centered and praiseworthy begins to fill that space where sin once abounded. No amount of good works will ever accomplish what confession and repentance does. Just sayin!