Freedom in ForgivenessSample

Point The Thumb

Ready: “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

Set: “Point the thumb, not the finger.” 

That saying has always stopped me in my tracks. When sin, broken fellowship, confusion, hard feelings or blame appear in relationships, it’s wise to first look at ourselves to “see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:24, NJKV) that might have ignited or prolonged the problem.

What a Christian does at those points in his or her life is the game-changer.

First John 1:8 says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”

Index fingers easily spot splinters in others’ eyes, but miss the log in their own. Thumbs very seriously consider 1 John 1:9, which says, “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.”

Our God is faithful and just and will forgive us when we confess to Him.

With forgiveness comes the expectation to repent. We turn away from the root of that sin.

Too many in our culture today are calling for grace to a person or people who refuse to agree with God that their ways are sinful and wicked before Him. There is no grace until confession. Then there is the outpouring of God’s free gift of grace, flowing from the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.

There’s nothing quite like a clean slate of forgiveness from Jesus. —Ron Brown

Go:

1. When have you been tempted to point the finger instead of the thumb?

2. In what areas of your life do you need forgiveness?

3. How can you share God’s free gift of grace with your team?

Overtime: Too often, I point fingers and make excuses and am afraid to examine my own heart and motives. Father, I miss the log in my own eye when I point out the speck in my teammate’s eye. May I turn back to You and rest in Your grace. Amen.

This text appeared in FCA Magazine. Follow FCA Magazine on Facebook for more faith and sports content. Click here.