Prayer - Confession

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Once more in this text we come across the dual aspect of confession, the seeking through repentance the forgiveness of God and the telling forth of our faith in Christ’s saving grace. Such grace has a cost.

The words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer have always challenged me, “Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Need we say anymore today.

We are so easily confused by what the world tells us, Watching God,

that we forget the stories of faith we heard as children.

We are so fearful of tomorrow,

we are not aware of your Spirit with us today.

We are so busy wondering, 'what if?' or 'suppose?'

we cannot hear the promises you whisper to us.

So once again, Gracious God,

have mercy on us.

You know our hearts so well

—touch them with your grace.

You see our deepest fears

—heal them with your peace.

You hear our secret longings

—speak to them of your hope.

This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen