And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
Today's Thought: Before confession, there should be a complete separation.
Reverend J.C. Ryle talked much about separation. He preached:
No doubt you have had many a battle, and made many a false step. You have sometimes felt ready to faint, and been half disposed to go
back to Egypt. But your Master has never entirely left you, and He will never suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear. Then
persevere steadily in your separation from the world, and never be ashamed of standing alone. Settle it firmly in your mind that the most
decided Christians are always the happiest, and remember that no one ever said at the end of his course that he had been too holy, and
lived too near to God.
Confession is a vital element in forgiveness. There should be an acknowledgement of sins through confession for forgiveness to be effectual. Otherwise, forgiveness is a ready but rejected gift. Without separation, it is impossible to have a 180-degree turn away from sin making the confession process bogus, a sham, and a show.
If a gambler wants to confess his sins, he should stop associating with other gamblers. If a drunkard wants to stop drinking, he needs to stay away from bars. If we want to show the seriousness of our confession, let us begin with separation.
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