Fall Forward

   Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

   "You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. 

   He replied, “I am not.”

John 18:15-17 NIV

Much has been made about the fact that Peter denied Christ three times. But, I am always struck by the little noticed truth that Peter was following Christ when that happened. Yes, he "fell", but, at least he fell forward, following Christ.

Sometimes, despite our best intentions and most honorable desires, we sin. Occasionally, even though we are following Christ, we don't act like it. This is not an excuse or a rationalization of sin. Like I John 1:8-2:2 teaches, sin happens. There is a difference between falling away or, some would say, backsliding, than simply sinning. Falling away is when you cease believing and choose solely to live according to your sinful nature. 

Peter denied that he knew Christ. We know from history that he definitely didn't stop following Christ. I know it's common to say that in John 21 Jesus reinstated Peter, but, where does the Bible say that Christ ever let him go? 

What is the lesson for us? The lesson is that even though we falter, even though we fail, Christ still loves us. Yes, we should confess our sins. Christ is faithful and will forgive us. At times, our actions in effect deny Christ because we definitely are not acting like a Christian.  Christ doesn't reject us. He died for our sins, for that sin. Confess your sin, be forgiven and repent. You may fall, but like Peter, fall forward.

Let's Get Real Here

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 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 is not in us.

1 John 1:8-10 NIV

I was on a hiring committee once for a assistant principal position at a school I was working at and we were interviewing prospective candidates. One was a gentleman who was currently working at that school. The candidate was telling us why we should hire him when he proclaimed he worked well with everyone and never had issues with anybody. 

The problem was almost all of us had experienced run ins with him and he could be very difficult to work with. There were other reasons why he wasn't the best person for the job, so needless to say he wasn't chosen. 

After he found out he was not selected he asked me why. I tried to gently explain that other people were more qualified, but, he got a little testy. So, I flat out told him that he told several people who he had problems with that he never had problems with people. He was shocked and didn't recall ever having problems with people. I've since changes schools and last I saw him he was still wondering why people thought he was hard to get along with.

If we don't recognize our own sin we will just deceive ourselves, blame others, maybe even God, and probably be self-righteous hypocrites. Just like my "friend" from work, if we deny our sin we can't be helped. But, if confess our sins (which is admitting you sinned), Christ will forgive all our unrighteousness. 

Confession Is a Good For The Soul

They say that confession is good for the soul. Sometimes we just need to sit down and get things straight with God. The Spirit may be convicting you. Go to God and get things right. 

Blessed is the one
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
   whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one 
   whose sin the Lord does not count against them 
   and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
   my bones wasted away 
   through my groaning all day long.
For day and night 
   your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
   as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you 
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
   And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalms 32:1-5 (NIV) 

Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness...

The Enemy Gets a Victory, Not the Victory

I knew something was amiss when an assistant pastor read Psalm 51. Not a few verses, all of Psalm 51 and asked the congregation to really think about what the verses meant. The enemy had a victory. One of the leaders sinned and was resigning. 

A marriage, a family, people, a ministry all decimated by sin, by the actions of people, real people. I can't imagine the depth of pain, betrayal and loss his wife is experiencing. That she chose to forgive and try to work through this has got to be one of the single greatest examples of love, forgiveness and grace I have ever seen. 

I called a friend of mine who I have known a long time and we have been through a lot, seen a lot and worked through a lot. We talked at least an hour. Sometimes it's not about pointing out the sin because that is obvious. Sometimes it's just about connecting in Christ.

Passion, like all emotions can be a two-edged sword. Unfortunately many people do not realize that a person who has a passion to serve Christ, see people come to know him as Savior and Lord, and then shepherd them to growth in Christ, is a passionate person. I think lust is uncontrolled and unconcerned passion. Pastor's can be easy prey for the enemy because they are passionate people. Some people might think that pastors, priests and preachers are almost immune to passionate desires and lust. No, they are human and just like everyone else. Here's a question or two: Who do you talk to when you are dealing with passion, temptation? Who can your pastor talk to? 

I hope to be able to help in some way. I think my relationship with him was just a bit beyond acquaintance because we were only able to talk a few times. But, if I can I will walk along side to help. In the battle for our faith, it is a loss. The enemy won a battle. Not the war, a battle. The war still rages. We fight on in faith, battling with mercy, grace and forgiveness. 

Father, may your grace abound. Praise be to you in us today.

OK, Break It Up

“Break up your unplowed ground

   and do not sow among thorns. 

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,

   circumcise your hearts,

Jeremiah 4:3c-4a (NIV)

I am not a farmer, but, I have had a garden. I did learn that you have to plow the ground before you sow the seeds. As a Christian, sometimes I do need to break up the hardness of my heart. I think self examination, confession and thankfulness are tools we can use to allow the Spirit of God to break up the hardness of our hearts.

By self examination I mean taking an honest look at yourself in prayer and while reading the Bible. 

We are all sinners. Our best is like filthy rags. Get real. Get honest. God is just waiting for you to get real. (See I John 1:9)

Be thankful. I believe true thankfulness is laced with humility because I know how sinful I am and how holy God is. 

Father, help us to allow the Spirit to break up the unplowed ground of our hearts. Praise be to you in us today!

A FEW GOOD THINGS

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; 
     to you our vows will be fulfilled. 
You who answer prayer,
     to you all people will come. 
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
     you forgave our transgressions. 
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
     of your holy temple.
Psalms 65:1-4 (NIV) 

God is good. He hears our prayers, forgives our transgressions, brings us near to live in his courts, and fills us with the good things of his house. 

So, if you have a need, pray because he hears.

If you have sinned, confess your sins because he forgives your sins in Christ.

If you feel distant from God, draw near to him because he draw us near to him.

Father, thank you for these good things you give us. Praise be to you in us today!

SURROUNDED, TIME TO CALL ON GOD!: Psalm 40:11-12

"Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
     may your love and your truth always protect me.
 For troubles without number surround me;
     my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. 
 They are more than the hairs of my head,
     and my heart fails within me." Psalm 40:11-12

I love David! What does he do when he totally blows it? He calls on God! He cries out for mercy and asks that God's love and truth would protect him. The enemy, the accuser, would have us wallow in sin, guilt and condemnation. But, why David was called a man after God's own heart was because when he things were at there worst, even due to his own sinful choices, he sought God. 

Are you surrounded by troubles? Do you feel overtaken? Time to seek God. It's past time to try to get yourself together. It's time to seek God. Time to call ask for mercy. Time to let God's love and truth protect you. 

Father, we call out for your mercy! May your love and truth protect us. We are surrounded, overtaken and can't see a way out. We call on you! Thank you that you hear our prayer! Thank you Jesus for being our righteousness! Praise be to you in us today!