Four preachers would often get together for lunch and fellowship. At one of the meetings one of the preachers suggested that they should confess their weaknesses to one another. So three of the preachers told something about themselves that no one knew about. The fourth preacher said, "well, my weakness is gossip and I can't wait to get out of here!"

While it is true that there may be things about ourselves that we might not wish to confess, there is a confession that all must make, and in scriptures it is called the "good confession" (I Timothy 6:12). The good confession is the truth about the identity of Jesus, as the Son of God.

The good confession is more than lip service. It is a statement of faith. A faith that is at the core of our being. A faith that shapes our thoughts and actions. It is a confession of a faith that make us what we are. We stand by it and live by it. In the first century of idolatry and paganism for one to confess Jesus Christ could mean the loss of family, job, freedom or life.

The good confession is an alliance with the truth. Truth is often seen, but not always confessed. Pride, sins, and fears can turn a heart from what one knows is right. The scriptures say that on one occasion some of the Jews "believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" (John 12:42).

The good confession is the basis of hope. It is even called the "confession of our hope" (Hebrews 10:23). The words themselves are hopeful. There is purpose in them. Jesus Christ is God's Son. The words can lead to us being confessed before the Father in heaven (Matthew 10:32). May these precious words always be in our hearts and on our lips.

For a free non-denominational Bible correspondence course call 830-833-4884 or email ike08@live.com

Church News: Sunday morning Bible Study- 10:00 - The Gospel of John. Wednesday Evening Bible Study at 7:00 - Old Testament Survey. Every Sunday Morning at 10:00 - Bible classes for all ages, cradle row through adult classes. You are welcome to join us August 15 for our worship service followed by a potluck in our fellowship hall.