We glorify God by an ingenuous confession of sin. The thief on the cross had dishonoured God in his life, but at his death he brought glory to God by confession of sin. ‘We indeed suffer justly’ (Luke 23:41). He acknowledged he deserved not only crucifixion, but damnation. ‘My son, give, I pray thee, glory to God, and make confession unto him’ (Joshua 7:19). A humble confession exalts God. How is God’s free grace magnified in crowning those who deserve to be condemned! The excusing and mincing of sin casts a reproach upon God. Adam denied not that he tasted the forbidden fruit, but, instead of a full confession, he taxed God. ‘The woman whom thou gavest me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat’ (Gen. 3:12); if thou hadst not given me the woman to be a tempter, I had not sinned. Confession glorifies God, because it clears him; it acknowledges that he is holy and righteous, whatever he does. Nehemiah vindicates God’s righteousness;. ‘Thou art just in all that is brought upon us’ (chapter 9:33). A confession is ingenuous when it is free, not forced. ‘I have sinned against heaven and before thee’ (Luke 15:18). The prodigal charged himself with sin before his father charged him with it.
I want to be quick to confess my sin and not to think more highly of myself than I ought to think! What a hard thing but obviously a right step. I can always see the sin of others faster than I can see my own. I want to please God by recognizing and admitting my failures and sin.