Listen to today’s devo!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

“There is no justice” was a common phrase we heard when we first moved to Albania, the country where we now live. Local people believed that only money could solve their problems. When taken to court, bribes were seen as a normal way of resolving the situation. Thankfully, others in the Albanian government took note of the problem. Some years later, eight out of the nine high court judges were removed in efforts to end corruption.

How encouraging that with God, we never have to doubt that he is just! He is completely just and faithful. However, God’s trustworthiness leads us to discover our own unworthiness. As we read Scripture, we realize how we fall short in comparison to his standards. As we stand before his just throne, though, we find a judge who knows all and judges with utmost integrity, but also has mercy. In his compassion, he has provided a way out from the sentence hanging over us. He is perfectly able to “purify us from all unrighteousness” and desires to do so. All we need do is ask—to “confess our sins”! So, today, revel in the joy of knowing you can trust God as an unbiased judge and his word to point out what true righteousness is. At the same time, daily seek his cleansing to put aside any hint of sin in your life.

—Caryl Aukerman

Surrender a new area of your life to Jesus, your trustworthy judge.