IN our previous consideration, Sins and Conscience – Part 2, there was this reading:
Further, He has given us the responsibility and privilege of confessing our sins. “…He that is washed [atonement] needeth not save to wash his feet [confession]…” (John 13:10) For, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
1JOHN 1:9 is probably one among many of those singularly important and critically significant verses of the Bible. I call it an M&M verse, “must memorize.” Like many, possibly you were blessed in the early stages of your Christian life to be mentored by someone(s) who stressed the importance of memorizing certain key Bible verses to help you along and establish a good foundation in those early days. I remember being handed a short list of Bible verses and being told to add to it as time progressed. Somewhere in one of my files or dusty notebooks I’m sure I can find that ancient document. Without looking though, I can recall some of the initial verses that are that list:
Rom. 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Is. 41:10 – Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
1Cor. 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Rom. 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Is. 40:31 – But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Heb. 12:6 – For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
Prov. 3:5&6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Rom 8:29 – For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
ACTUALLY, Rom 8:29 was not on that “initial” list, but it is one among many that were added to my memory bank later on, as its truth became more instructive and precious in understanding God primary focus of “conformity to Christ” in “bringing many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10).
WELL, those are just a few I can immediately recall on a list that grew over time, my bag of Bible M&M’s. 1John 1:9 was at or near the top of the bag, so critical to the Christian walk, needed so often in our struggle with sin and renewed fellowship with the Father. I recall this being drummed into me in those early days, being packaged in phrases like the “rebound technique” – how to rebound from sin in the need for daily cleansing; like washing our hands (as our mothers taught us) before sitting down to a meal (again, a metaphor for fellowship and renewed communion within our unchanging Union with Christ).
OH, here’s another M&M verse I added to that list: Psa. 37:24 – …though I fall, I shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds my hand. Or how about this one? Psa. 30:5 – For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
DAVID wrote, Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You – Psa. 119:11. But if we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1Jn 2:1), and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn 1:9)
WELL, I’ve gone long on this introduction, so rather than continue with another excerpt from our book I’ll stop here and suggest you pick-up and prayerfully read 1John 1 in its entirety; and if you haven’t yet memorized versed 9, consider doing so. And if you haven’t started a “must memorize list,” the next time you see or open a bag of M&M’s, it might prompt you to do so, if this hasn’t already.
ONE more thing before I close. When I served on the Board of Elders for our church (I’m now an Elder Emeritus), I was kind of known as the “candy man.” I had several bags of candy hidden away around the school and church office that I would haul out to sort of “enhance” our long and sometimes difficult meetings. What the men around the table don’t know, is that I enjoyed watching those little bags of M&M’s being opened and laid out in order of color before consumption. (Everyone seems to have their own technique for eating M&M’s) …Anyway, a lot of those memory verses of mine are underlined in my bible, a practice many individuals perform in underscoring precious parts of scripture. One of these times I’ll tell you about the colors of M&M’s as they relate to my underlining those verses in my bible. But that’s for another day. At the moment though, know that “green” stands for a verse that pertains to growth. I like green.
IN the joy of the Lord,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10 (all M&M verses)
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