Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Reconnection (Part 2)

Scriptures: Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT) – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Romans 8:1 (NLT) – “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Message: Without confession and repentance, there can be no reconnected life.  Sin is not just a thing I do, it is a condition I have, and it affects everything.  So, what are your sins?  Did you just think a lot? I know that is also my answer.

You cannot fix a problem you do not think you have, so the first step is talking to God.  To confess, from the original Greek word, means to agree with God about the reality of our sin.

Reconnecting and reconciliation – between friends who are fussing, husbands and wives, bosses and employees, racial reconciliation, political reconciliation – always begins when we can admit our sins and how we have hurt the other person – and really admit it – saying something like: “You know, I did not treat you as a person made in God's image.  I am so sorry.”

The benefit is freedom from shame.  It releases us from what I will call the “imposter syndrome”, where we think to ourselves “I do not think that person really likes me, because if people only knew what is going on inside, they would surely reject me.”  What I find helpful is, in addition to confessing to God, also to confessing to another trustworthy Christian who is able to handle my confession of sin well, and assure me of God’s love – and of their love.  Perhaps this is something that you might find helpful too.

Paul in Romans 8:1 provides the good news about our sin.  Not because we worked really hard to get God’s approval, but because He loves us so much – is so frantic about us – that He came Himself in the person of Jesus, and died to pay the price for our sins.

Prayer: Lord, in hope and faith, show me my sin.  Cut through my defenses.  Help me experience Your absolutely inexhaustible resource of grace and love that makes Dry Bones reconnect and live again.  Do not let me avoid, rationalize, or run away from my sin – only focus on my sin so I can receive the gift of grace and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Jim Esch - To see 1 of 2

Don't forget, today's Lenten Gathering - Teresa Scott

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