A Reflection On Repentance

When I am confronted with my sins

What do you do when confronted with your sins? Do you get defensive? Are you resistant? That may depend on the one who is pointing out your sins. A friend’s rebuke is hard to take, a stranger’s harder still. The Bible rebukes us frequently, but we find it easy to ignore the Word when we want to. After all, there are lots of pages to turn to when we want a more uplifting, encouraging thought. Regardless of where the rebuke comes from, we don’t usually want to be bothered with messages about our own corruption. We’d rather dwell on how far we’ve come than how far we have to go. We don’t like reminders that no matter how long we’ve been disciples, we are in need of great mercy.

Test your level of “repentability.” Evaluate your response when you are confronted with your sin, either by another person or by the Word of God. Take your cues from David, whose response to his sin was grief. Let humility be your guide, and see the mercy of God.

Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”

2 Samuel 12:13