Learning from Isaiah and Peter what it means to confess our sinfulness before a holy God.
In Isaiah 6, after seeing a holy, holy, holy God, Isaiah responds appropriately:
"And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'"
Or think of Luke 5, when Peter comes to realize that Jesus is superior to him. We read, "But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'"
Or consider the confession that Paul makes in Romans 3:
"Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."
When we come to terms with our situation, we are silenced. We are humbled.
We confess not only our sins but that we are sinners. It is not just something we have done, but it is who we are.
And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'
When was the last time you truly felt the weight of your sin before a holy God? Describe the circumstances and emotions surrounding that moment. How did it change the way you viewed yourself?
Have you ever found yourself comparing your sins to others', thinking, 'At least I'm not as bad as them'? How does this mentality reveal a lack of understanding of God's holiness?
In our culture, the concept of sin is often dismissed or minimized. How have you seen this attitude creep into your own thinking or the church as a whole?
Practice confession this week—not just of specific sins, but of your identity as a sinner in need of grace.
Uncomfortable Holiness
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