Day 13: Wednesday, February 20

When you confess, you are not just admitting that you have sinned. You are admitting to God that you have sinned. Once you repent, He can help to take the burden of the wrong-doing away.

To give an example, let’s say that your friend came over and while he was there, he broke your favorite toy or iPod while you weren’t looking. Which would make you angrier: If he came to you and said “Look, I’m really sorry. I accidentally broke your iPod when I was in your room. What can I do to make it up to you?” Or, if you came in later and found the pile of technology that was your iPod? You would probably prefer the first, because if your friend told you and God of his sin, you would feel less anger knowing that he was truly sorry. You could forgive him; he would feel better; and God would forgive him, knowing that your friend repented. If a person claims that he has done no sin, he is deceiving himself, not God.

Whenever we do something wrong, we face a choice: Admit to God and be forgiven, or refuse to confess and carry the burden of the sin. The only way to feel forgiven is to admit your error, and receive God’s mercy. Only then are we pure.

Drew Styles, 6th Grade