The Prosperity of the Penitent

Are you interested in prosperity? Wherein do you wish to prosper? In his wisdom Solomon in Proverbs 28:13 wrote, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Here we have real prosperity. Be interested in material prosperity and you are concerned about a very deceptive prosperity, one that is sure to come to an end, and that has turned you away from what really counts. Here is the awesome truth that if we do not confess our sins, but try to cover them from God's eyes, we will enter adversity rather than prosperity. Covering our sins is adding to them. This calls for more punishment, and it is evidence that we walk very, very foolishly.

We deceive ourselves, not God, when we try to hide our sins. He is everywhere present and the all-wise and all-knowing God. The only way in which we can get assurance of forgiveness, and obtain blessings, is to confess our sins. For to "confess" is to "say with" God, and not try to go against him. Confessing our sins is saying with God that He is God, and that we are sorry for having denied this by our sinful deeds. We cannot cover our sins from God's eyes. Solomon speaks here of covering them in our own silly and corrupt minds. It is adding to sin.

Do then what Solomon, the wise king, tells us we must do. After every sin you committed, and before you close your eyes in sleep at night, say with God that you deserve everlasting punishment, but desire the forgiveness which Christ earned for His people. Confess your sins, but confess also that Christ is a wonderful Savior Who committed not one sin, but blotted out all the sins of those whom the Father has given Him as the members of His body, the holy, catholic church.

Then, in His mercy and grace, you will enjoy forgiveness and prosper spiritually. That is what counts!

Read: I John 1

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Isaiah 15 ; Isaiah 16 ; Isaiah 17 ; Isaiah 18:1-7 
Galatians 1:1-24 
Psalm 58:1-11 
Proverbs 23:12 
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Quote for Reflection: 

How can we convince our children that God is important, if we never give Him any of our time? How can we pretend to love Him, when we scarcely spend a minute with Him alone? Our children may dutifully learn their rituals, and chant their mealtime grace, “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for this food”. But down in the heart, where the real attitudes are formed, our prayerless lives have taught another message: “God is great but He can wait; gotta hurry or I’ll be late.”  L. Christenson