disclosure
“Come, let’s settle this….” — Isaiah 1:18
Each morning I spend time pursuing GOD. I do so a few ways: in his Word, through talking with him, and using resources that guide my morning liturgy.
This morning I was reminded by the prophet Isaiah that before I pursue GOD, he’s pursuing me. It was there in chapter one, verse 18.
“Come, let’s settle this,” says Yahweh.
Or as John Goldingay translates it, “Come on, please, let’s argue it out.”
What’s the “it” in this pursuing line from GOD, this entreaty to sit down and talk it through?
Our sin.
The fact that we’ve done him wrong, broken his law, and transgressed his commands.
There have been so many ways we’ve not done what we should,
and so many times we’ve done what we shouldn’t.
This behavior is why we find so many encouragements in the Bible to provide a full disclosure to God in the ways we’ve come up short. The word God uses is confession — the act of openly acknowledging and naming the truth — especially truths about sin and wrongdoing — before God and others.
This morning I was guided by the dead guy, theologian, and English Puritan, Richard Baxter, in my full disclosure before God —
O most great, most just and gracious God; you are of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. You condemn the ungodly, unrepentant, and unbelievers; but you have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in him.
Therefore, we confess that we are sinful by nature and that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have neglected and abused your holy worship and your holy name. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbors. We have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread. You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ and offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we have turned away. We have run into temptation; and the sin that we should have hated, we have committed.
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. We confess you alone are our hope. Make us your children and give us the Spirit of your Son, our only Savior. Amen.
Look at that first paragraph again, the bolded section: “but you have promised mercy.”
That stunned me this morning, sinner I am.
God has promised mercy. (!)
Which means that even though I am a sinner, he’s safe.
In and because of Jesus, I’m able to be in his holy presence, and not be annihilated (which I fully deserve outside of Jesus).
Even though I have so often “turned away,” he offers countless second chances.
Which is why GOD says what he says through the prophet; it’s why he pursues us, and it’s why we can receive the invitation to sit down and settle matters with him.
“Come, let’s settle this,”
says Yahweh.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.”
(Isaiah 1:18)
Or as one of the closest friends of Jesus taught me —
“If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
So make a cup of coffee or tea,
dear reader,
pull up a chair,
and have a conversation with a merciful, loving, forgiving, and compassionate Father,
who is pursuing you, and is eager to settle things with you.
