I was teaching a Bible class and asked the question, “Since we are commanded to ‘Confess our sins to each other’ (James 5:16), why are we so reluctant to do so?” After some excellent comments, one brother said, “Maybe we should ask, ‘Do we really want others confessing their sins to us?’” He had a good point. When someone shares their struggles with you, you then become a bearer of burdens you may find very hard to carry. You have been given a sacred trust. It is one of the ways that Jesus comes to our aid when struggling with sin and temptation.
We know that God’s knowledge of temptation is first-hand. Scripture assures us that: “Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).
Sin is the ultimate plague that man brought upon himself. Only by personally intervening did Jesus bring a cure for the sins that separated us from God. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Having removed the eternal consequences of our sin, Jesus helps us to “die to sin and live to righteousness.” Thankfulness for Jesus’ grace motivates us to avoid areas of temptation by fleeing to his “throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Only by clinging to the word of God will we see the devil’s lies for what they are.
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
John Staiger