There's Something About Repentance

But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

Judges 10:15-16 

The book of Judges is story after story of Israel forsaking God to serve other gods. Every time they turn to idols they of course end up being oppressed. Eventually, after eighteen years, they call on God to deliver them. In chapter 10, after delivering them several times God tells them cry out to the "gods" they had been worshipping. 

Eighteen years. That's a lot of oppression. That's a long time wallowing in the same sin. Eighteen years of looking to false gods for hope and only being oppressed. Does this sound familiar to anyone else besides me? Don't we do the same thing? We keep looking to things, people, and experiences to make us happy rather than serving the Lord. 

Israel not only confessed their sins they repented. They got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. I don't know if the Baals and Ashtoreths are the same thing as the gods of pleasure and "I got to have it now" that we see all around us everyday, but, they still can lead us away from the Lord and oppress us year after year. The deal is whether or not we are willing to call upon the Lord and repent. 

You see it's easy to say God loves us and forgives us and is always faithful. But, it's not so easy sometimes to have to give up that idol, that sin, that may seem good for a moment but in the end always oppresses. I once had a student come up and tell me that a girl kicked him, right where it counted, twice! I asked her why she kicked him and she told me that he asked to kiss her and she told him, "OK, but I get to kick you." Kiss, kick, kiss, kick. I said to the boy, "That must of been some kiss." He shook his head like it was just so-so. Yet he kissed her again... man isn't that just a perfect picture of us and sin? We don't mind the kiss but that kick is pretty bad. 

The good news is, if we really turn back to God, he delivers us. God will make a way out. God will provide.  

Grace Spares

But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 6:25

A couple of things about Rahab are pretty cool. One, her faith was real and two, God's grace spared her and her family. First, her faith was not just an emotional experience. She took a step of faith. She hid the spies and hung the scarlet cord, gathered her family and waited for deliverance. Within that is a little truth that I think is pretty important. She was willing to leave her old life and start a new life as part of Israel, the people of God.

The grace of God, in the midst of battle and judgement, is shown to Rahab and her family. We are reminded that Jesus came to save sinners. She was a prostitute. She was not, at least at first glance, the noble woman of Proverbs 31, but, more like the woman Proverbs warned about in the beginning chapters. Yet, she became a member of the Messianic line and is mentioned in Matthew 1:5. What is important about Rahab, is not that she was prostitute, but that she took the step of faith to turn away from her former life and start a whole new life in Israel.  

What we were is not what matters, what matters is that we turn to Christ and live a new life in him. His grace spares us from destruction and makes us new creations in Christ. 

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ!

cf Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25

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.

The Sketchy Blessing

May God give you heaven’s dew 

   and earth’s richness—

   an abundance of grain and new wine.

Genesis 27:28 NIV

Although the circumstances surrounding the blessing are sketchy to say the least, the blessing still stands. Sometimes God blesses us despite ourselves. Like Jacob, we plot and plan, connive and conspire, and often pay the price for it. Yet, God in his amazing grace blesses us. Remember though, his mercy and kindness should lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Do You Need a Little Revival?

Then we will not turn away from you;

   Revive us, and we will call on your name. 

Psalms 80:18 NIV

Sometimes you just come to a point were you realize that you're not walking in the same direction as Christ. For whatever reason, circumstances or your own bad choices, you find that you need to get reset on following the Lord. All you can do is ask you to revive you. 

As soon as you ask, God hears you. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6:

   Trust in the LORD with all your heart

      and lean not on your own understanding;

   in all your ways acknowledge him,

      and he will make your paths straight.

He will make your paths straight. Isn't that awesome? The point is to seek him. Seek him and he takes care of what is in front on you. 

Do you need a little revival? Just ask...

What is your intent?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

James 1:25 (NIV)

Once while backing up my car I hit a little, but unforgiving two foot post sticking up out of the ground. I went forward, saw the stupid thing in my mirror, backed up again while avoiding the post. My intent was not to dent my car, but I did. Since my intent was to get out of the parking space without hitting  anything, in the end I got out without causing further damage.

Follow me on this. If my intent is to sin I will sin without concern for the damage it will do to my life and the lives of those around me. If my intent is to act in faith, even if I find myself in sin, I will back out - repent - and act by faith in love. 

Make it your intent to act in faith. Make it your intent to do the the word of God says and even when you get a bit off track the Spirit of God will help you to act in faith, to do live according to the word.

Why Wait To Be Forgiven?

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.”
Jeremiah 36:1-3 (NIV)

Even when we are in sin God is gracious and calling out for us to repent so that he can forgive us. His purposes are not just about punishment. His desire is that he may forgive us and that we may enjoy his righteousness. Just don't confuse the conviction of the Spirit with the condemnation of the enemy. And don't misunderstand the mercy and patience of God for permissiveness. 

The deal is this: Why wait to repent? God is offering forgiveness. He wants to work graciously in your life. It's kind of like you are drowning in the ocean, surrounded by sharks, and wondering if you should take the life rope.  Take the rope. 

Father, thank you for your patience and forgiveness. Help us to repent. Praise be to you in us today!

DO YOU KNOW A WANDERER?

My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20 (NIV)

Are you a little lost? 

Are you a bit off track? 

Have the cares of life kind of buffeted you out of your comfort zone? 

Do you just sense that something between you and God is not quite right?

Stop. Remember God's love for you in Christ Jesus. God is full of compassion and mercy. Despite what you are going though remember..."Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18) 

Father, thank you for your grace and compassion. Turn me back to you. Praise be to you in us today!

TIME TO GROW UP

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance for acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hand, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." Hebrews 6:1-2

I grew up in churches that emphasized the need to share the gospel with the unsaved world. That's not a bad desire. I remember sitting in a service while the preacher waited for someone to come forward to accept Jesus. Finally, some ninety year old lady would go forward, again, and we could all go home. They were sharing the gospel, fulfilling the great commision...

The author of Hebrews says it's time to grow up. Time to build on the foundation of the elementary teachings about Christ. Time to take your faith to the next level. 

So, the question is: Where do we need to mature? Where do we need to take our faith in Christ up a notch? 

Father, help us to mature in you. Praise be to you in us today!

SEALED AS GOD'S: II Timothy 2:19

"Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."" II Timothy 2:19 

As an ex-construction worker, I know that if the foundation is good the house at least has something to build upon that will keep it level and square. And I have seen some houses built upon some pretty rough ground.  Christ is the cornerstone of our salvation. At the bottom of everything is Christ's death and resurrection. I am a sinner. Christ is my Savior. Christ is my righteousness. That is the bottom line.

The Lord knows that we are his. If we have confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). God knows us. He knows me, he know you. We are his. 

Our job is to turn away from wickedness. Wickedness will present itself. We just have to turn away from it. That may mean choosing not to do something or it may mean removing something. Whatever it is, turn from wickedness. Turn to God and trust him to fulfill you. Remember, you are God's child. 

Father, thank you that you know us, that you know we are yours. Help us to turn from wickedness and trust in you. Praise be to you in us today!