“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

Maybe some of us tried to remove an ink, herb or blood stain. It’s a disappointment when you try, but don’t succeed.
The same thing happens with sin. It leaves never-fading marks. Sin produces spiritual handicap in me and at the same time, it hurts the heart of my Creator. In His love, God, my Saviour, prepared a solution through which sin can be cast away. After cleaning my sin, Christ calls me to a life of obedience to Him. I should not treat easily the forgiveness that I received. I always have to think if I regretfully confessed my sins and if I truly realized how severe sin is. If I earnestly look at my relationship with God, I decide to use every occasion to correct myself, not only for the occasion of the Lord’s supper. I can verify my attitude at any time using the following filters:

1. I examine my conscience in His presence with patience, in privacy and silence, until I discover the things that need forgiveness. I confess these things and then wish to remain in God’s love, clarifying everything in front of Him.
2. I regret all of the things that were against the Scripture and everything that did not reach to the level of His calling. Regret is part of the human will and it is a decision, before being an emotion. A type of regret that doesn’t consider God does not lead to repentance and to saving faith. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
3. I take the decision to avoid sin from now onwards. Otherwise, my repentance is not authentic. John Wesley said:“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.” How wonderful is my decision of wanting what God desires.

God has the heart of a Father. I don’t have to make efforts in order to ask Him for forgiveness. In His heart, there is forgiveness for every sin and for every person who repents. God is the one who works at my conviction that I need forgiveness. Prophet Isaiah says that God hates not only the sin but also the empty rituals. There are people who love rituals but don’t love God. In those times, Israel’s rituals were an offense against God. He didn’t want such things from them but wished that they would be ready to learn from Him to do good and to say the truth.

Prayer: “Lord, keep me away from sin and from ritualistic religion! Help me to serve you with a clean conscience, through continuous repentance and with a firm decision to have a clean life!”