HEARTLIGHT®: Two Minute Meditations: "Boy I Blew It!"


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p> Most of the time, however, they deny they missed the call, even though instant replay clearly shows that they missed it:

“Well, I had a better angle on it than the TV camera!”

“It was a difficult angle, but I was much closer to the action.”

“No comment!”

This was the source of great debate this past year in professional sports. Umpires were criticized for their different strike zones, their smaller than the rule book strike zones, and their blown calls. Football officials were repeatedly criticized for blowing major calls that decided the outcome in important games. All sorts of excuses were made, all sorts of explanations offered, but very rarely did someone just flat out admit the obvious: “We sure blew that one, didn’t we!”

In life, we’re much the same way. We know God doesn’t want us to sin. So our first response is to deny that we sinned or rationalize it away.

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin even one sin.” (1 John 2:1)

Deep inside, we know that sin is rebellion! Sin is failure! Sin is rejecting God’s will for our life! When we commit sin, we need to know that it hurts God, it hurts us, and it hurts anyone we involve in it.

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)

So what do we do when we stray from God’s intention and we sin?

So what do we do?

We confess that sin! We acknowledge that we blew it. No rationalizations, no excuses, just genuine repentance which leads us to turn away from sin and to Jesus Christ as the answer for our great problems. In addition, we trust that Jesus who died for us will not only forgive us, but he will also purify us so that we are as clean as we ever have been.

“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)

How many times have you said, “I blew it!” It’s pretty hard to say for most of us. We find it easier to make excuses. So let’s talk straight with each other.

Why haven’t you been more honest with yourself, with God, and with your friends. What are you trying to hide? God knows! You can’t fool him!

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ... If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:8, 10)

John promised that if we are honest, and confess our sins, Jesus will not only forgive us, he would make us clean and new, purified of unrighteousness. Rather than interfering with our fellowship, this opens the door to our fellowship with both God and our fellow Christians.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

So the next time you stumble over sin, get it behind you. Confess it, turn from it, and get back to serving God, trusting that Jesus’ blood that saved you, can also make you new and clean!