By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
MONDAY – APRIL 14, 2025
THEME: PROMISE #58 – GOD’S PROMISED MERCY
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 28:13
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
REFLECTIONS
One morning, Jesus came from the Mount of Olives, and some scribes and Pharisees approached Him with a woman whom they claimed “was caught in adultery, in the very act.” When they insistently demanded what should be done to her, He said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” No one could. They left in shame. But Jesus told the woman, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:3-11). Jesus’ challenge to the sinless to cast the first stone addressed a fundamental issue in life – “all have sinned.” He meant that though people may wear a sanctimonious façade, they are dirty and messy underneath. However, mercy can be found in the Lord.
On that day, the accused woman received forgiveness, but those who left without confronting Jesus about their messed-up lives carried their sins still covered and unconfessed. Jeremiah 17:9 rightly states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” The accused was set free, while the accusers bore their sins in bondage. The significant point is that we have all sinned and need forgiveness. Instead of blaming, condemning, and crucifying those whose sins have become public, we should examine ourselves first and show sympathy because we want to be favored and treated kindly when our own sins come to light.
Promise #58 reveals God’s good intentions for us as sinners. Proverbs 28:13 states, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” The Scripture acknowledges that we may transgress due to our human nature, but we can ask the Lord for mercy and the forgiveness of our iniquities. To plead for mercy implies that we are sorrowful and do not wish to continue in that sin, hoping not to disappoint our Lord and Savior.
This promise is vital because sin is a curse that kills and destroys, but God is merciful and forgiving, lifting the curse and enabling us to prosper. There is well-being, peace, prosperity, and health embedded in this promise of God granting us mercy when our sins are confessed. It is a mistake, a complete misunderstanding, ignorance, or self-forgetfulness of who God is that leads someone to believe He cannot see what we do in secret. Can we hide our sordid past from God? No, it must be confessed to be forgiven and forgotten by Him who sanctifies us. The condition for our secret sins to be forgiven is laid out for us. Today, this passage serves as both a promise and an admonition; tomorrow, it will be the evidence against us in judgment. This is why we should be careful when we claim to be Christ’s but live contrary to His teachings. Keep no sin unconfessed.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 287 – “Softly and Tenderly”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His unfailing mercies and the privilege of being forgiven and restored; present your heartfelt needs before God while claiming His promise;
– Pray for yourself, your family, friends, well-wishers, and fellow Christians to boldly confess to Jesus and receive the mercy of forgiveness and freedom;
– Pray for those in the valley of decision, those who do not know how to confess to Christ;
– Pray for the nation, peace in the subregion, healing for the sick, and comfort for the grieving.
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