Today I will lead worship services in which we will go through a confession of sins. I have done this thousands of times, and there is always a familiar unease as I do so. I confess my sin along with everyone else present. Confessing my sins honestly before God makes me uncomfortable. And it should.

Over the years, I heard lots of folks, especially people who were not used to liturgical worship, object to the ritual of admitting that we are ”poor, miserable sinners” or whatever language was used to point out our sinfulbness. They didn’t like it. And I understand their reticence. It is something none of us wants to do.

As uncomfortable as it is, it is necessary. It is also therapeutic. Maybe it would help to think of it in those terms. Anyone who has had joint surgery or an injury has to go through physical therapy. I know several physical therapists, and I have been through it myself. It hurts. It is uncomfortable. You can come up with all kinds of excuses not to do it. However, if you don’t you won’t get better. With the pain and discomfort of the therapy, healing and restoration comes. It is for your own good!

So it is with confession. Through the necessary discomfort and pain of admitting our sin, and by virtue of the faith we have in Jesus as our Savior, we hear the announcement of sin forgiven and life everlasting. We are reminded that the offering of His perfect life as payment for the sin of the world was our payment for sin. We are healed and restored and empowered to live for Him.

Jesus told a story to show us the attitude we should have when we confess our sins.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Luke 18:9-14

Lord, keep me from arrogantly thinking I don’t need to confess my sin. Give me the attitude that readily cries out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” that I may go home justified, rejoicing in the righteousness that is mine for Jesus’ sake. Amen.