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Daily Scripture
 
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

COMMUNITY CONFESSION, FORGIVENESS

Jack and Jane were delighted to be present at the baptism of several new believers.

June 13, 2008

by Dena McMaster

Last Sunday morning the Inapang people pleasantly surprised the missionaries working there.

Missionaries Jack and Jane Housley were visiting their son Bill before leaving Papua New Guinea after 30 years of service. They were delighted to be present at the baptism of several new believers.

Then, as everyone prepared to leave, someone stood up and said that the meeting was not over because there were several people who needed to address the community.
One by one, a group of men who had engaged in public sin stood and asked forgiveness.

One man declared that he was sick inside over the lapse in judgment and asked the community to help him refrain from this sin in the future. Another who confessed his sin said that one of the other believers came to him and corrected him as they had been taught. He said he was happy that this man corrected him. One lady stood and asked forgiveness for fighting with her sister. And she apologized and asked forgiveness for "dirtying Christ's name."

Finally a believer who had attacked Bill with a machete stood humbly before the group and with his head bowed in shame recounted the whole event, including causing the side of the meeting house to collapse. He then apologized to Bill and to the community.

"We had no idea that some of these things were going on," wrote Kelley. "but it was so neat to see them do this in their own village way and then to watch the community clap together as a sign of forgiveness. We were truly blessed by all this."

Praise God with us that the Inapang believers recognize their need to honor Christ with their lives. Pray too that the believers will continue to deal with sin in their lives.