Call to repent

‘What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose that proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.’
(verses 4,5)

Read Luke 13:1-9

It’s not very fashionable to talk about sin. Sin refers to things that are just plain wrong. Some people are reluctant to describe something as being wrong. ‘It may not be right for me, but if it feels right for you, it’s OK.’ Another thing about sin is that it always seems easier to find it in others than in ourselves.

It doesn’t help when we gloss over sin. We call it having an affair; Jesus calls it committing adultery. We talk of telling a little white lie; Jesus calls it lying. We find some extra money in our bank account and say we’re lucky; Jesus calls it stealing.

Admit it, you’re a sinner. Whichever way you look at it, sin is sin. But God has the antidote to this deadly poison. He calls on you to repent, to admit you just can’t get it right, and he offers you forgiveness, a pardon. He wipes the slate clean. He removes every last residue of dirt, so you can stand clean before him. The old is gone. You’ve been made new.

Dear God, I’m sorry for my sins. Please remove the stain of my sin with the cleaning power of your forgiveness. Amen.

by Janet Eiby, in ‘Refreshment for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2003)

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