Hey sinner, yay you...I'm a sinner too

As I feel like I have gotten closer to Jesus over these past few years I have also realized in those moments how much of a sinner I really am.  I have an evil heart.  Or as Revelation 3:17 says, "you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."  And yet, because of Jesus, I am loved.  I am His.  I am redeemed!  In my weakness He is strong!  In my brokenness He is perfect!  In my stains He is spotless!  He knows me!  He already knows I am a sinner.  Why must I "avoid" Him?

So what do I do?  I come to Him and confess my sins and He responds with, "i am faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness."  Wait...what?  Really?  Yep.  But here is the kicker, but boy if I don't claim to be a sinner in need of a Savior, then I make Jesus out to be a liar...woa!  And the outcome?  His Word is not in me.  (1 John 1:9-10)

So as I wrestle with this truth, I thought, for those of us who are "not in the Word" or "His Word is not in me" does that come from a place of not taking our sins seriously?  And if we don't take our sins seriously, we sort of just skate thru life with Jesus nearby...Then there are those who understand the depravity of their sin and have no hope BUT to draw closer to Jesus, being reminded of His deep deep love for them even in their sinful state.  And how do we learn the depth of His love for us?  Simply by being in His Word!

Ok, so now it works out best for us if we wholeheartedly admit what He already knows about us, so that we can rest in His promise of grace (the forgiveness of sin) and allow ourselves to taste and see that He is good and that His love does indeed endure forever.  Or better yet, what Jesus promises to do for us if we confess our sins - "I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. (Rev. 3:18)  Wow, all this by recognizing that we are sinners and admitting our sins to Him...that is love.

I'll finish up with one more truth for us to chew on, "and if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1)  We have no reason now to avoid spending time with Jesus, so let's open up the Scriptures today and soak in His promises and His faithfulness to us!!!