When We Fall
by Rev Greg Obong-Oshotse 29 January 2021
Reading 1 John 1:5-2:6
Text: Psalm 37:23-24 “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.”
Text: Proverbs 24:16 “. . . the righteous falls seven times and rises again. . .”
Right from the start, journalists pick up this pearl of wisdom: ‘Doctors bury their mistakes. Lawyers put theirs behind bars. But journalists publish theirs on the front page for the whole world to see.’ It stands as a quality control supervisor over every journalist. No story is written, edited, approved, paged, planned and published or broadcast without the full satisfaction of this invisible supervisor. Wise is the journalist who wears that pearl around his or her neck as a constant filter. For good reason: failure can lead to a loss of face, readers, revenue, and a hefty bill for libel.
Christ’s disciples fare much better. John brings his hearers a very comforting message about their failures: forgiveness. John knew his Old Testament and was offering something God had already provided. The Psalmist teaches that the righteous will not perish in his fall because the LORD upholds his hand. And from the pen of the writer of Proverbs flows the comforting cordial: the righteous falls seven times and rises again. John can confidently say: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God always deals mercifully with His people: For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust Psalm 103:14. Approach Him today with confidence and lay your sins at His feet.
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Prayer
Dear Father forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness in Christ’s name, Amen