Pastoral Devotion for March

No Secrets
Read – 1 John 1:5-10
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open; all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid. These words are very familiar to a great number of Christians. Each week, Christians bear their souls, confessing their sins to our almighty God. Yet, God is not the only one who is to hear our confession.
Day by day, people sin against one another. All too often, we sin against our neighbor even without them knowing about it. Gossip, harmful remarks and breaking confidences are all ways in which we sin against our brothers and sisters. Such sins are those which we do our best to keep hidden from the one who is the object of our misgiving. After all, what they don’t know won’t hurt them right?
Even if we are able to keep knowledge our sins from others, God sees them. Our Father knows our hearts and minds better than we know them ourselves. Failing to recognize our sin leads us away from our God and drives a wedge in the midst of the community of faith. Yet, as we acknowledge and confess our sin in the presence of God and one another, we are assured of our forgiveness.
Prayer: Almighty God, create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.