To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Week 5, Day 5 – Integrity is a Satisfactory Sacrifice that Pleases God
To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 10, Day 2 – Forgiveness Restores Us to Purity
Photo by Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:19–23
The reality of living on this side of heaven is that the potential for sin is always there. But the grace of the sacrament of Confession restores us to a right relationship with our heavenly Father. In this is purity. We may sin again, but we don’t have to. We have been brought into the kingdom by the Son who has set us free by his death on the cross.
God, who is perfect and cannot forget, chooses to take our sin and throw it away from us, as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12), where he remembers it no more. We stand before him, not just declared legally righteous, but changed men, pure and free. At the same time, we stand before our brothers and sisters and the world as men who have been forgiven and cleansed from sin. We are free to share the message of the Gospel, remembering that we are the recipients of that powerful grace given to us by the death and resurrection of Christ.
Questions for reflection
When have you experienced the purity that results from God’s forgiveness in your life?
How has the pure sacrifice of Christ given you hope to have victory over your sin?
How does standing forgiven in Christ empower your witness and free you to speak to the hurts that need cleansing in others, especially other men?
Praying with Scripture
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
Recommended Stories
More Stories By :
About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
