Good morning…

I just learned that “confession” in Greek, exomologeo, means “to agree with someone,” and the word “confess” can be translated “praise” or “thank you.” I am struggling to wrap my brain around these life-changing insights.

I usually think of confession as something we do privately with God, purposefully hidden away from the ear shot of others, expressing our scared, scarred souls alone with our LORD. Usually a sinful confession is bruised with guilt and shame, not laced with praise and thanks. It is intriguing for me to consider honest confession taking place in community, within in the safe, loving presence of others we trust, and that heartfelt confession leads us to genuine gratitude.

I guess soul-bearing confession is what spiritual friendship is all about. We lay ourselves open, vulnerable before God and our inner circle, and we allow our flaws out to cry, to breathe, to reshape us into new people. Through honest confession loved ones comes close, agreeing with us, “You made a mistake but your are still loved, you are still valued, you are still growing. Be patient with yourself, God’s not done with you yet.” Looking into the eyes of grace-filed acceptance, gratitude naturally bubbles up. Shame is shed. Praise presses forth. Supported by compassion, we confess, “Thank you, God, for giving me spiritual friends to love me through my faults and my failures.”

We are adored by God from the beginning of time, just like every other sinner who walks this earth. God, who has loved us all along, still loves us when we sinfully screw up. The LORD has always been at work and continues to be at work in the life of each flawed person formed by divine fingers. If we leave judgement out of our conversations with ourselves and with others, then we can offer a safe space for true confession to take place. Allowing understanding to blend brokenness into beauty, we grow increasingly grateful for our relationships. In agreement with our true self, our true friends, and our true enemies, we say, “Thank You, LORD, for this long term process of mending us whole.”

So then, my dear ones…continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure, Philippians 2:12-13 (AMP),

Sue