We Protestants, no matter the flavor, don’t do confession well. We assume it’s supposed to include the trappings that our Roman Catholic friends add, and we avoid it. We also don’t talk much about what the penalty for sin is, whether that’s sin in general, or our specific sin, my specific sin. Sometimes it’s even easy to think that my sin is no big deal. But I remember 1 John 1:8 – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

I used this Lenten season for a time of confession, recognizing that though it was the Romans that struck the blows, it was for my sin. It was so that God’s wrath against my treachery would be punished that Jesus walked the road to Golgatha with that cross on His back. Though He was sinless, He paid the price for my guilt.

Lord, as I confess my sin, let me recognize the great price that was paid for it. Let me not take it lightly. By the grace that was poured out, Lord, and by the power of your Spirit, may I live rightly. Amen.

Cradle-to-Cross Wreath

Sinning Stones and Blessing Basket

Phoebe…There are times when I am trying to teach her something new, and I will put a treat in my hand. Whew! Then I have her attention. She tries so hard to figure out what I am trying to get her to do. First she sits, then lies down, then does a high five, then rolls over, all the while looking at the hand that is holding the treat. After going through all the things she thinks I want her to do, she finally looks at me, at my face, at my eyes and I am finally able to communicate what it is that I want her to do. And, oh, is she eager to please. Once I do communicate the objective, she is quick to obey.

The way she looks at me reminds me of the way I want to look to God. Psalm 123:2 says, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.” I want to eagerly look to God knowing that He wants to communicate to me all that I need to know. I want to seek Him first, but I get so distracted looking for all the blessings. I so often don’t realize that the biggest blessing of all is knowing Christ.

Lord, like Phoebe, so often I run through all the things that I think you want me to do. I get so busy looking at the treat that I want so badly, that I forget to look to you, I forget to see things through your eyes. Help to me focus on you, on what you have commanded in your word, help me to be quick to obey. Lord, help me see You.