“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”- (1 John 9).
One thing that tends to characterize the people God has used is they tend to have a past. Abraham the father of nations slept with his maid in an act of desperateness (Genesis 16). Moses the liberator of Israeli was once a run away murderer ( Exodus 2:14). The Apostle Peter denied the Lord three times ( Luke 22:54-62). Before he converted, the Apostle Paul relished in the persecution of the church.
Although all these, and countless other saints had a past, quite not so fairy, yet the Lord used them mightily to further His work. This is an important point to grasp. Quite often we find those who looking back at their past may feel not up to the task of serving the Lord because of that dark past. Guilt has overtaken them and they feel chained down.
Sometimes there are also those who pause and compare themselves to some holy figure in their surroundings. Standing in their shadows they feel hum strung, for they cannot match up to the saintly figure before them. Worse, still, there are situations where those who know of one’s past are quick and eager to bring it up, as a stumbling block.
Looking at the past of those God has used it should be an encouragement to all, that any can play a meaningful role in the Lord’s kingdom. The scripture are quite emphatic, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” ( Romans 8:1). Guilt over some past and feeling inadequate is one of the tricks of Satan to paralyze Believers in their individual callings. Every believer, who has confessed his past to the Lord is forgiven and ready to be of much use, regardless. For “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” ( 1 John 1:9)
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you that you have forgiven me of my past to gladly use me as you will to further your kingdom, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
