“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:8-9

Owning Our Sin

One of the things that makes being a sports fan fun is comparing players and teams with each other. Statistics are usually a big part of those debates, especially when talking about the greatest athletes ever. The only way to compare, say, LeBron James and Michael Jordan is through stats because they played in different eras. People can talk about what they saw watching both of them play, but the conversation almost always comes back to how many championships they won and the numbers they put up.

Sports is not the only area of our lives we like to compare people. As humans, we have a tendency to compare ourselves to people around us, usually with the goal of trying to make ourselves feel better. However, the reality is that we are all imperfect people who have sinned against a perfect God.

I’ve found that remembering this is a great way of shifting my focus away from comparing myself to others. Part of being a Christian is acknowledging when we sin and asking God, as well as the people we wrong, for forgiveness.

The amazing thing is that once we accept our imperfection, God’s grace comes and bridges the gap between us caused by our sinful nature. Jesus died on the cross as payment for our sin so that we can be without blemish and free from accusation before God (Colossians 1:22). That all starts with us owning our sin.

— Joshua Doering

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