IF is a small word.  It is a conjunction.  Anyone who watched Sesame Street growing up knows that rhythm – Conjunction Junction What’s Your Function.  Some days those words come to mind out of nowhere and I start singing it!  Crazy, Huh!  I have seen the word “if” many times throughout the Word of God.  A quick glance at a concordance and I can safely say the word “if,” is in the Bible at least 1784 times.  So when I see a verse starting with that word, I have to ask, “What is your function?”

Stay anchored to the one who is faithful and just to forgive our sins.

The verse we are unfolding today is 1 John 1:9 – IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.(NIV)

Let’s stop on our path today and look at these precious words of God:

IF we confess our sins – a basic step – a willingness to admit our sins – then confess our sins – then what will God do?

God says that He will be faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.  You can’t get any plainer than that.  IF – Confess – Sins – Forgiven

And God doesn’t leave us there – He adds something else – He will purify us from all unrighteousness.

This is the main reason Satan tries to keep us from admitting our sins.  He wants us to stay in the dark and not step out into the Light – He knows that God will forgive.  So he shames us into thinking that we can’t ask for forgiveness.   He uses different tricks with different people – but it’s all for the same purpose – to keep us in the dark. To keep us in the dark.

Remember, Satan will use that conjunction “if,” to keep us from the Father’s love.  He will try to get a foothold and drag us back – deeper into darkness so that we will be afraid or ashamed to call out to the Lord and ask for forgiveness.

Stand tall and speak out against the evil one and then speak out your sins – God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

Today is a good day to seek out God and ask Him to reveal to your sins – then you can ask for forgiveness of sins and He will be faithful and just to forgive those sins.  It is only when you hold back in fear – rebellion – hurt – that you will stay in darkness.  Step out today – into the light and seek Him.  Don’t be ashamed. Seek His forgiveness. Live in the freedom of Christ.

My Song:  I have heard this song off and on over the years.  Never really sat and listened to the words.  BUT I thought what a wonderful word “IF,” two letters and yet those two letters have caused me to stop – to think – to change.

IF