I remember the first time I confessed. I realized I was born into sin and I was separated from God the minute I chose my own way. We call this original sin. Who knows at what moment I first chose myself over God? Probably as a toddler not willing to share my toys or hollering the word, “NO!” at my parents? We are all born with an inclination to sin, to go our own way, to selfishly place ourselves at the center of the universe. We make ourselves more important than others and continue fracturing our relationship with God and others as we proceed walking down the same road.
I remember the first time I confessed. I understood I was a sinner and I knew was selfish. I understood Jesus came to earth to restore His relationship with all of humanity. We are all broken. If we aren’t very broken by our own sin we are certainly broken by the sins of others. I confessed all sin I was aware of. I asked for forgiveness from Jesus Christ and declared I’d follow Him for the rest of my life and and I felt this great release! A relief! A freedom and sensation I’d never known suddenly redefined me! The heaviness was gone.
I still confess sin today and I also confess Jesus as Lord. Confessing Jesus as Lord is living life with God as my first and top priority. I constantly am failing at this… I give in to the god of materialism, gluttony and apathy. I know when I confessed sin I was forgiven. I confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior and God came to abide within me, dwell in my soul, and take up residence inside of me. This changed me forever. It changed my perspective and I saw everything with new eyes. God’s Spirit speaks. He doesn’t force Himself but He gently leads. He abides in me and I in Him. We are together. I am not alone. I belong.
This chapter is full of information about love. When we realize the love God has for us it brings us to our knees in confession and grateful submission. He is the Great One! The Holy One! God is the one worthy of our allegiance!
“By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment,” 1 John 4:17a
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19
What beautiful words for us to hear and to share with others! When I confess Jesus is Lord I receive all these things! I have no fear of death, judgment, of being left alone! I can be confident! God is a great part of me, the greatest part, actually. I am part of God and His great plan. Without this vital divine lifeline, this umbilical cord attached to God, I am just a sinner, a broken one, a mere human. When I abide in God I am eternal. I am fulfilled. I am focused. I am hopeful. I am ready. I am in the palm of His hand and he watches over me and cares for me. It is well with my soul!
Jeni Martin Johnson 
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