I once received a phone call from a friend from out of town. He happened to be in the area and wondered if he could drop by for a quick visit. I said, “Sure, come on over!”

Then I surveyed the house to see if it was ready for company. It was in pretty good shape except for the huge pile of dirty dishes. I didn’t have time to wash the dishes before my friend arrived. I did, however, have time to put them in the oven!

Sometimes we tend to hide the unsightly things that pile up in our lives. We are often satisfied if our sins are hidden from others.

Obviously, we can’t hide our sins from God. Therefore, we shouldn’t even try to do that. We should be honest enough to confess our sins to God, and thereby receive his forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”—1 John 1:9-10.