Here we are in the 10^th month of the year. Many of us made resolutions on January 1^st regarding things we intended to do this year. As we reflect on what we said we would do this year, we may have fallen short in some areas. We may have even committed sins: sins of omission and sins of commission. The good news today is that no matter what we have done, we can confess our sins and our loving Lord will forgive us. In 1 John 1:9, we find these words:

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

This verse encourages us to acknowledge and confess our sins because God, in His infinite wisdom, will forgive us. “He is faithful and just to forgive…” means that God’s mercy is at work as part of His righteousness. God does not condone sin, but He forgives sin because this is His divine nature. Notice in this verse that the writer says, “He is faithful…” That means that we can depend on God to forgive us. If we confess our sins today, God will surely forgive us. That’s a promise on which we can rely.