ADMIT OUR SINS TO EACH OTHER?

Scripture Reading: James 5: 14-16 (from The Message); Psalm 32:3-5 (from NASB)

Plenty of well-documented research shows that there is a strong connection between mind and body. When the body is not functioning properly due to illness or injury, the mind is strongly affected and can lead to anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.  In the same way, when our thoughts are focused on difficult situations in our lives, our bodies react, which can lead to physical illness: colds, ulcers, heart disease, etc. Treatment, in more recent years, has begun to focus both on physical symptoms and the mental state of the patient.

We could illustrate this in these simple terms:

            Problem: Mind is consumed by a work situation, leading to physical ailment.

            Remedy: Talk to someone to find solution to situation, and treat physical symptoms.

            Purpose: Peace re: situation (and resolution perhaps), and healing of physical issues.

Similarly, God’s word makes a connection between harboring sin in our minds and the state of our bodies:

Problem: When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning

all day long. For night and day thy hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was

drained away as with the fever heat of summer. (Psalm 32:3-4, NASB).

Remedy: I acknowledged [confessed, admitted] my sin to thee, and my iniquity

 I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” (vs 5a).

Purpose: And thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin (vs 5b). [Forgiveness].

In his book to fellow Christians, James expands the circle of confession to include “each other.” Why would they (we) need to do this? Isn’t just God knowing my sins and my having forgiveness sufficient? Well, Yes and No. Let’s apply the previous illustration one more time.

            Problem: Are you sick? Have you sinned?(James 5: 14a; 15c, The Message).

            Remedy:  1.Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the

            name of the Master (vs 14b).

            2.make this your common practice: confess your sins to each other and

            pray for each other (vs 16a).

Purpose:1.Believing prayer will heal you; you’ll be forgiven – healed inside out

            (vs 15a and c).

2.You can live together whole and healed (vs 16b).

3.The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be

reckoned with (vs 16c).

Jesus tells us over and over again the importance of loving one another. Living “whole and healed” together calls us to love on a deeper level, a freer place…to be known and loved, warts and all – and where we can extend that to others as well. And, there’s another great benefit: a powerful prayer life that can “accomplish much,” according to the end of verse 16 in NASB translation.

I want all the benefits of confession and prayer I can get – don’t you? Therefore, I will commit to admit my sins to God and others – won’t you?

Father, I desire to live “whole and healed” in the body of Christ. Help me be more open and honest before you and others. Amen.