Short devotional (Day 62) from the Summer of Scripture series on the Naked Marriage podcast featuring Ashley and Dave Willis. They read 1 John 1:8–9 and unpack its message that all people sin, but confessing sin to God brings forgiveness and cleansing; they apply this to marriage, encouraging confession, vulnerability, mutual accountability, prayer, and extending grace to one another.
Chapters
Welcome to Summer of Scripture on the Naked marriage podcast. For 66 days in a row, we're releasing a short daily devotional for your marriage. Over these 66 days, we'll be sharing one scripture from each of the 66 books of the Bible and talking about how it applies to your life and marriage. Listen to all 66 episodes of these and you'll have a better understanding of God's Word and His perfect plan for your marriage. Let's dive in to today's scripture.
Welcome to Today 62 Friends. We're in the book of First John. John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, who was responsible for writing the Gospel of John, and also these three epistles, these three letters to believers. So here in the book of First John, we get this from chapter one, verses eight and nine. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness. Before we dive into this verse, I forgot to mention. John also wrote the Book of Revelation. He was the only one of the original disciples that was not martyred. Instead, he was exiled to an island called Patmos. And as an old man on this island, after years of persecution and all kinds of other stuff, he received this revelation from God about, you know, what was going to come in the future. He wrote it down, and it's the last book of the Bible, which we'll be talking about in just a few days. But this particular verse, it's all about the fact that we all sin. But if we confess that sin, seek forgiveness, God forgives us. It's a simple message of grace that we can have a zero balance sheet with God. He's paid the price for it. So we can not live pridefully as if we don't have sin. That's the only way to really mess this up. But admit we have sin, confess it specifically, and then receive the forgiveness and healing for it, and then extend that kind of grace to each other in marriage.
You know, there's such power in confession. And I think that, you know, like the Catholic Church, you had mentioned that in a previous episode, that's a normal practice for them, and I think that's a healthy practice. But in Protestant churches, we don't really have like, a formal place where we do that. But, I mean, we are encouraged to still practice that. And I think it's just. It's kind of. It's cathartic. And to, in your prayers, to Seek forgiveness. And I know there's different schools of thoughts on this. I've seen different people saying, like, that's not really needed. But I will tell you in my own Christian walk that the practice of confession in my prayers is cleansing for me. And it's biblical, you know, it's a biblical practice. But I would also say that there is a place, and I've heard different people talk about this, but there's a place for a level of confession in your marriage. Like, there shouldn't be any secrets between you. But I think if you're struggling with a sin and you've already brought it to the Lord, you, you need to talk to your spouse about it. And I think that there's such power in knowing that your spouse is in your corner with you and what you're dealing with. Right. And just being that gut level honest with each other and like, you know, talking obviously first and foremost to God about it and seeking his forgiveness. That's who you, you know, you're seeking his forgiveness. But if it's a sin to, you know, that you've done to your spouse, obviously you seek your spouse's forgiveness. But even if it's not a sin that, like, you committed against your spouse, but maybe it's just something you're dealing with, sinful nature in general, I still think it's really healthy to talk to each other about it. And honestly, your spouse might be able to offer you some, just some perspective. But also they can also know what to be praying for. Like, lord, please help them to stay out of this sinful area, to live a pure life and help my spouse, you know, in this arena. And then it also gives your spouse license and kind of the opportunity to share what they're dealing with.
Exactly.
So you can pray for them as well. And, you know, we regularly have these kind of conversations and like, I'm like, oh, do you see this in. Or, you know, like, we just talk through all those things. And the healthiest couples that I know do this. Now, it sounds very scary to people.
It's very vulnerable.
It's very vulnerable.
It's the kind of intimacy, it's the kind of nakedness God wants us to have. He wants you to have a naked marriage where you can say, you know, what do you see that there's a blind spot on me? And to confess, to say, this is something I'm struggling with. This is something that I'm dealing with. Because every one of your struggles needs to be shared with your spouse, and because it affects your spouse Even if it's unspoken. Even if it's unspoken, it's affecting them. It's already affecting them. And so you've gotta talk through these things. And there's healing in confession as well. Like, we confess to God for ultimate forgiveness, and then we confess to one another for healing. Part of the healing process. And there are also times that you do need to seek forgiveness, specifically from your spouse, because you've wounded them and you've sinned against them. But this is healthy. If this is a practice you're not doing together in your marriage, then do it. It doesn't have to be this formal, weird sit like you're in a confessional booth and like, bless me, sweetie, for I have sinned, and just start talking about all this stuff. But to make it a natural part of your conversation, like, man, I'm really. I feel like I'm struggling with this right now. I feel just angry lately. I feel like my anger's gotten out of control and I've been snippy with my words and I've been talking about it and say, point out when. If I start going down that road, point that out and give your spouse permission to step in and provide some accountability in a loving way.
And it is. It's very freeing and healing. And I feel like, again, we just live in a culture that kind of shies away from vulnerability. But there is such power and vulnerability with your spouse. I mean, we need to be that safe place for each other where we can bring anything and talk about anything. And it also. It really. It doesn't allow the enemy to get a foothold. When you're in the know of all the different struggles that are going on with. With each other, it really brings strength to you both. And it keeps you, you know, out of. It kind of brings you into the know and also helps you to avoid that temptation. Cause you can avoid it together. You can be on each other's team and say, yeah, we're not gonna go into that space where you're tempted. Because I know that that's something you're struggling with. Or, we're not gonna watch that show. Cause I know you're struggling with less. Like, we're not gonna watch that show. We're not gonna, you know, whatever it is, you're gonna be in the know and be able to help each other to face whatever. And I love that little last part of the verse. It says, and then he will remove all wickedness, meaning not only will God forgive you, but he's also going to help you to conquer that.
Right? He'll give you the strength that you need.
He'll give you the strength that you.
Need to conquer it.
Yeah.
I love it. He gives us the very thing we need. Hope. That was an encouragement to you guys. God's word always is. We're coming close to the finish line. It's kind of bittersweet, but join us tomorrow. We're on day 63. We'll be in the book of second, John.
