May 14: Confessing in Community

Some people come to a recovery meeting for the first time and are surprised by how honest everyone is.

In Ephesus, something remarkable happened. People who had believed began coming forward and openly confessing their practices. They didn’t hide what they’d been doing. They brought it into the open, in community.

The next verses say many of them brought out their old books of magic and burned them publicly. The old life went up in smoke. And the word of the Lord grew and prevailed.

That’s a picture of a healthy church, and in a way, of a healthy recovery meeting. People telling the truth. Old things being let go. New life spreading.

Meetings aren’t Step Five. Your Fifth Step is one person, in private, hearing your whole inventory. But meetings are a place where honesty is normal. Where people say what’s really going on. Where nobody pretends to have it all together.

If you’ve been sitting quietly in meetings, maybe this is a good week to share. Not your whole story. Just something true. How you’re feeling about your Fifth Step. A struggle from this week. Something you’re grateful for.

If you have a church, it might be worth asking whether there’s a small group where people are this honest. Many churches have them. Some have recovery ministries.

Community makes honesty easier. When you hear someone else say the thing you thought only you had done, the shame loosens. You realize you’re not alone.

Burning the old books was a way of saying: I’m not going back. What’s the old book you’re ready to let go of?

That doesn’t mean telling everyone everything. Wisdom matters. Some things are for your Step Five listener only. But living honestly in community means you stop putting on a show. People see a real person instead of a mask, and that’s when real friendship becomes possible.

One thing today

Go to a meeting this week and share one honest thing. If you have a church, ask your pastor about honest small groups or a recovery ministry.

A prayer

Lord, thank You for people who tell the truth together. Help me find community where I can be honest. Give me courage to let go of the old life completely. Amen.

Read about Step Five.

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