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. 1 John 1:9
Many people today struggle with perfectionism. We seek to live perfectly, moment by moment, believing that our perfection is something to be proud of. Sometimes, we even begin to think that we are perfect, ignoring the seemingly small sins and mistakes we have made. The truth is, if we believe this, we are only fooling ourselves the same way that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were fooled. No one is perfect. We have all sinned and broken God’s heart.
In our Bible study this week, we have been looking at the time Jesus called Levi, a tax collector, to be His disciple in Luke 5. Luke records that the religious leaders were indignant that he was associating with tax collectors, who were, in their opinion, “scum” (verse 30). They viewed themselves so highly that they judged and looked down upon others. They failed to realize that they, too, were sinners in need of a savior.
As much as we may all try to hide behind the guise of perfection and ignore our sins, the truth is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. That is why John writes in 1st John, "If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth" (verse 8). Indeed, striving for perfection and concealing our sins will only deceive us. If we, however, recognize our sins, God is faithful to offer forgiveness. John continued writing in 1st John, “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (verse 9). We have a sin problem, but if we confess our sins to God, He is quick to offer forgiveness.
My friend, it is time today to acknowledge our sin problem. It is time to recognize that, despite the perfection we might try to hide behind, our sin is bitter. When we can recognize our sins, we will be met with the profound forgiveness of God, our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much.
Have you fallen under the temptation of perfectionism, striving and striving to please God through your actions, believing that your good works will earn His approval? It is time now to let go of that perfectionism. Take time now to come before God in prayer, admit that you are not perfect, and that you know that you have let Him down. Thank Him for loving you, even when you sinned against Him. Ask Him to help you let go of perfection and look only to Him for satisfaction and approval.
1 John 1:1-10
1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 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. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
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