Tell Somebody

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:9-10

Do not lie to one another. Seems so basic yet it is so important. We all need someone in our lives who gets us, knows us, and is willing to graciously confront us. In order to effectively put off the old self and put on the new self, we need help. In other words, we can’t dress ourselves! That’s right! We’re like newborns who need mom and dad to dress them.

We need each other.

Confession is good for the soul. James wrote:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

james 5:16 (ESV)

Here’s what I love about this verse. James doesn’t say that we are to confess our sins to someone else who does not also confess his sins to us. Confession is a two-way street. When we confess our sins to one another, we are one struggling child of God helping another struggling child of God to live a godly life. Struggling to keep your Lent commitments? To whom are you confessing that? Who knows your struggle? Prays with you through it and is willing to walk with you no matter what? When is the last time you told that person that you were battling?

The second thing I love about James’ instruction is this: The two confessors are called righteous. That’s right! The prayer of a righteous person James refers to is not a prayer of a third bystander! No, it’s the prayer of a confessor who’s forsaking his sin.

Repentance is a lifestyle, not a one-time exercise.

That’s how we put off the old self…and put on the new.