James 5:16a (The Message) Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed…
Sin harms relationships. It disconnects relationships. “Sin always splits the self (the soul) in some degree. We become fractured people” (Dallas Willard). We pick up the mask and begin pretending, begin protecting ourselves—and we let go of honesty and transparency in the process. The first five commands in the Ten Commandments describe sins that disconnect us from God. The second five describe sins that disconnect us from one another. God’s people were to prioritize holy connections. That is why God led the Children of Israel to Mt. Sinai before taking them into the Promised Land. They needed to understand the “Big Ten,” because the absence of love, belonging, and connection always leads to suffering. Revival only comes with confession—the breaking of hindrances. What disconnects exist in your life? Invite the Holy Spirit to help you identify them and rebuild those relationships.