So, What Is Confession?

October 2, 2012

This week I’m blitzing daily blogs to unpack each point of yesterday’s Jet Pilot’s Compass for you.  The first point is:  CONFESSION…

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   (1 John 1:9)

In the original Greek language, what we translate as confess is a compound Greek word: to say and the word for sameness.  It literally means to say the same thing God says or to agree with God.  If you know the Word of God and are in the Spirit enough to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, you can know what God says and how He feels about what you have done.

Your confession is to agree with Him. Our responsibility is to agree with Him.  He does all the rest.

He knows when we are lost.  Because He loves us He very much wants us to agree with Him that He might recover us and lead us into the green pastures and still waters that lead to a table of provision and a full cup that never empties.  That’s why He wants us to confess our sins and start climbing in the right direction spiritually.

He is not a divine policeman with a huge club just waiting to crack us over the head when we step out of line.  The ministry of Jesus is summed up in the Gospel of Luke this way: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (19:10).  That Gospel shows us in beautiful ways the blessings that came into the lives of lost people because Jesus found them and led them to the blessings of salvation.

Agree with Him and He will guide you to the blessings He has just for you.

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Posted by Dick Woodward

A Jet Pilot’s Compass

October 1, 2012

“… God called to the man, “Where are you?”  (Genesis 3:9)

When we know we could get lost we make sure we have a compass with us.  Jet pilots fly so far so fast they must have a compass to use immediately when they think they are lost.  A squadron commander I knew taught his pilots to use this five-fingered compass: “CONFESS, CLIMB, CONSERVE, COMMUNICATE and COMPLY.”

They were to immediately CONFESS when they thought they might be lost.  Then they were to CLIMB because communications are better and they burn less fuel with altitude.  Next they were to pull back on the throttle to CONSERVE fuel.  The final two points on their compass were critical:  to COMMUNICATE with their carrier and then COMPLY with that communication.  He promised that if they faithfully implemented the five points on this compass they would see the red light on their carrier called the “meat ball” that guided them to a safe landing.

If we realize we have lost our direction in life we must confess that we are lost.  Then we should climb, or do whatever we can do to get close to God.  This could be having a private spiritual retreat or seeking out spiritual people.  We should not make big decisions but conserve when we have lost our way.  The last two points on our personal compass are also critical: we must communicate with God and comply with what we believe He makes us know we are to do (John2:5).

If we will faithfully implement the five points on this compass we will see the “meatball” of His will that will guide us to green pastures in this life and to a safe landing in the house of the Lord forever.

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Posted by Dick Woodward

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